37S 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC^ 



cravat. Over the top of the post were laid a white fillet and 

 two or three strips of hide about a fathom long. Presently, an 

 officer at the head of a small guard entered the hollow square, 

 and as he marched round with his sword drawn, repeated seve- 

 ral times in a loud voice, <^ Juan Mendez is doomed to die for 

 murder ; if any person can offer a reason why he should be par- 

 doned, let him speak." — All remained silent. 



In a few minutes a chanting was heard, and the prisoner, 

 supported by two friars, attended by others, and guarded by 

 twenty soldiers, advanced slowly into the plaza from the street 

 leading to the prison. When he had nearly reached the place 

 of execution, the troops were ordered to shoulder arms, and a 

 body of cavalry issued from the palace, and formed outside the 

 infantry, completely surrounding them. The prisoner halted 

 in front of the troops. He was much emaciated, but I recog- 

 nised, in his strong frame and bloodshot eyes, as they wander- 

 ed round the scene before him, the murderer that I had seen 

 at Santa. He knelt down, and the executioner, that the reader 

 has already guessed to be the negro in bragas, blindfolded him 

 with the handkerchief which he held in his hand. The padres, 

 who were chanting the whole time, raised him and led him to 

 the post, where he again knelt for a moment, and then, with 

 much composure, took the seat which was prepared for him. 

 The executioner passed the hide cords round his arms and 

 body, and secured it to the post, and then bound his head back 

 with the white fillet : — the padres crying, in a lugubrious tone, 

 all the time, Misericordia ! Misericordia !" not, however, as 

 if they really desired it, but mechanically, as if they did it as 

 a trade. At a motion of the sword of the commanding officer, 

 after all had been adjusted, four soldiers wheeled out from the 

 ranks, and at another signal, fired, though not simultaneous- 

 ly ; the prisoner fell, and hung by the middle to the post, with 

 his head and feet touching the ground. A friend advanced 

 with the "mortage," or grave clothes, and the crowd rushed 

 forward, anxious to see the body. The troops quickly retired, 

 and in two minutes the padres had disappeared, and only four 

 persons, besides the executioner, were standing near the spot 

 of the execution. The body was untied and laid on the ground. 



