A GRAND PROCESSION. 



39 



the women my eyes rested upon one with a black 

 mantle over her head, a prayer-book in her hand, and 

 an Indian woman by her side, whose face exhibited 

 a purity and intellectual softness which it was easy 

 for the imagination to invest with all those attributes 

 that make woman perfect. Whether she was maid, 

 wife, or widow, I never learned. 



At four o'clock in the afternoon we set out for 

 the procession and paseo. The iftense heat of the 

 day was over, there was shade in the streets, and a 

 fresh evening breeze. The streets through which 

 the procession was to pass were adorned with 

 branches, and at the corners were large collections 

 of them, forming groves of green. The balconies 

 of the windows were hung with silk curtains and 

 banners, and in the doorways and along the walks 

 sat rows of ladies simply but beautifully dressed, 

 without hats, their hair adorned with flowers, and 

 their necks with jewels. Near the church of San 

 Cristoval we were arrested by the crowd, and wait- 

 ed till the procession came up. 



It was headed by three priests, all richly dressed, 

 one supporting a large silver cross ten feet high, and 

 each of the others bearing a tall silver candlestick. 

 They were followed by an Indian band, a motley 

 group, the leaders of which were three Indians, one 

 supporting the head and another the foot of a large 

 violoncello. Next came a party of Indians, bearing 

 on their shoulders a barrow supporting a large sil- 

 ver cross. At the foot of the cross sat the figure of 



