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THE MOJOS INDIANS. 175 I 
next Mission ; tho Correjidor and tho Alcaldes carrying silver-headed 
sticks as emblems of their exalted rank, and visiting the Director every- 
day to receive his orders ; the Major-domo dc Collegio, -«'ho, as chief 
master of the household, had to look after the provisions of the eoni- 
niunity, and to distribute the weekly rations ; then the masters of the 
dilferent trades — the Capitano de los Carpinteros, the master of the 
carpenters ; the Capitano de los IleiTcros, the master of tho smitlis ; the 
Capitano de los Tejederos, the master of the weavers ; the Capitano de los 
Eosarios (instead of Tomeros), the master of the tuniers, so called becanse 
he had to make the rosaries worn by every one,* and was attached to the 
service of the church ; the Capitano de la Capella, the Capitano de la 
Plata, and the Capitano de la Cera, the masters of the chapel, of the 
plate, and of the wax. Besides, there were the Piscales, to look after 
the works in the fields ; and the Cruzeros, a sort of sanitary police, recog- 
nisable by black crosses on their white camisetas, who had to take care of 
the sick, and to register the biiihs and deaths. 
The pomp of sacerdotal sway, which to the present day profoundly 
impresses the childish mind of all these nations, certainly contributed 
greatly to make them forget the loss of that golden liberty which the 
next generation never evmn knew ; and the Fathers took special care to 
allot to the whole population as large and as active a share in its displays 
as was possible, be it in the shape of the execution of sacred music or 
ol‘ processions, or of symbolic dances. 
The clmrches, now half in ruins and bereft of the best part of 
their ornaments, in the time of their splendour must have sm-passed 
everything till then seen in South America, in respect of magnificence 
at least, if not in artistic beauty^ ; and as for the processions, Charlevoix 
relates wonderful things about them. Especially on Corpus Christ! day', 
not only was there the display' of a profusion of the richest cai-pets, 
banners, and standards, but even the luxuriant tropical vegetation was 
brought under contribution for the embellishment of the “Via Trium- 
phalis and no activity' of the teeming fancy of the artist is ecpral to 
utilising all the treasures t/iai offers. IIuw poor seems our Korthern 
vegetation in that respect ! Firs and birches are about the only things 
we use on such occasions ; whereas with the jmlms, ferns, orchids, aroidem 
* Our jjaildlci's, oacli of wliom had two or tliviie rosarieB with them, cut very 
prptty heads of the Palo Maria with thoir long knives, and ixu-foruted them ndth throe- 
edged needles ; evidently remiuiseonoea of their old industry. 
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