306 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



silver, or silk. All the world wore holy-day attire. At 

 twelve o'clock, the procession in honor of the saint formed 

 at the convent of Santo Domingo, and proceeded slowly to the 

 plaza. The saint, dressed in a rich cloak of gold lama, and 

 crowned with flowers, was placed on a high platform or table, 

 called an anda," which was borne on men's shoulders. In 

 former times, the anda was covered with sheets of silver. Fol- 

 lowing the standard of the order of Santo Domingo, (of which 

 Santa Rosa is a member), were two lines of priests, each bear- 

 ing a large wax candle, although it was noonday, chanting aves 

 as they advanced. Next followed, in the centre of the street, a 

 negress, crowned with flowers and gaudily attired, carrying 

 in her hand a censer of silver filigree, in the form of a bird, 

 and close after her moved the anda. Then were two or three 

 priests, followed by a can&nigo bearing the host in a rich 

 custodium of silver, and shaded by a silken canopy borne 

 by four priests. Next came two files of church dignitaries, 

 in cloaks of gold and silver lama, wearing horned bonnets 

 of black; and after them, the civil and military officers of 

 the government, in gay uniforms. There was the hero Nico- 

 chea, and the veteran General Vivero, who has shown himself, 

 during the whole struggle for independence, faithful to the Pa- 

 triot cause, and unmoved either by bribes or threats. Then 

 followed literary men and collegians, in black, with huge 

 cocked hats and small-swords, bearing wax candles. The 

 whole was closed by companies of infantry with a fine band, 

 and a troop of cavalry. 



The procession moved slowly on, and when the anda reached 

 the first altar, at the north-west corner of the plaza, it halted 

 for a short time, while a few aves were chanted. A file of in- 

 fantry extended round the sides of the square, to preserve a 

 free space for the passage of the procession. The centre was 

 crowded with people of all classes on foot, and long lines of 

 cal6sas were drawn up in the rear of the soldiers. The balco- 

 nies of the portdles were filled with ladies and children, and 

 the steps of the cathedral were crowded with sayas and tap^i- 

 das. When the procession entered the plaza, the bells were 



