314 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



are thrown those bodies, that are found, on exhumation, to be 

 not yet entirely decayed. Around it are eight blocks or tiers 

 of holes, adapted to receive the dead bodies of children ; they 

 are connected to each other by a wooden railing, and thus 

 form an octangular enclosure. 



About this spot stood several Fathers, in their church habili- 

 ments, repeating responses for those who came to purchase. I 

 observed one, and stood near enough to hear. Presently an 

 Indian came up, and very respectfully taking off his Guaya- 

 quil hat, requested un responso." ^ Para quien ? — for whom ? 

 asked the friar. For Francisca, replied the Indian. The priest 

 folded his arms, and muttered the prayer pretty rapidly ; to- 

 wards the close he clasped his hands mechanically, and rolling 

 his eyes towards Heaven, came to the Amen. The Indian fol- 

 lowed the holy father to the end, and when he had ceased, 

 handed him a two real piece. The padre fumbled a little while 

 to find the pocket that he wore under his robe, and then re- 

 turned a real in change ; and the poor Indian walked off with 

 the countenance of one who had fulfilled a pious duty — per- 

 haps he felt that Francisca was relieved of a real's worth of 

 purgatorial pains ! Several persons followed, and paid their 

 real for responses. The padre discharged his duty towards 

 them with the nonchalance and confident air of one experienced 

 in the business ; when alone, he stepped near to one of his 

 order, and whispering into his ear, both burst into a merry 

 laugh. At almost every corner about the grounds, was a padre 

 repeating requiescats for some poor mortal. 



The Pantheon walls enclose about two acres of ground, 

 which is entirely destitute of trees or any thing green ; the 

 surface is parched by the sun, and almost as white as ashes. 

 It is divided into several squares, by low walls or curbs of 

 adobes. In these are dug trenches, and the bodies of the poor, 



** Unknell'd, uncoffin*d, and unknown,'* 



are thrown promiscuously together, and the earth pitched in 

 and pounded down. Almost every morning a half dozen are 

 thus bestowed, for the sexton or undertaker waits till the dead 

 house is filled before he buries ; being no more trouble in his 



