168 
EVENTS AT 
neighbors far and near ; but even with these I had not 
half seats enough for the company. This, however, 
proved no great inconvenience ; for the Mexican ladies, 
preferring to sit d la Tur\ formed a double row 
around the dancing room. The senoras occupied the 
trunks, chairs, and settees, and the senoritas the 
carpet in front. My friends in the vicinity kindly 
furnished me with tables, lamps, dishes, and such other 
necessaries as the occasion required. To light the 
large hall properly most tried my ingenuity ; but this 
difficulty was overcome by means of a new-fashioned 
chandelier improvised by one of our gentlemen for 
the occasion. Sockets for the candles were first 
required ; and these were constructed out of the tin 
boxes in which sardines had been preserved. Next, 
a hoop from a pork barrel was divested of its bark, 
and wrapped around with binding of a bright scarlet 
hue, which had been brought out to decorate the 
heads of the fair Apaches and Comanches, as well as 
the tails and manes of their animals. Into this hoop 
or frame the tin sockets were fixed, and the whole 
supported by several loops of the same elegant mate- 
rial fastened to a common centre. Such was the style 
and origin of our chandeliers, with their dozen burners 
^ each ; four of which, suspended from the ceiling, shed 
such a ray of light upon the festal hall, as ren- 
dered the charms of the fair senoritas doubly capti- 
vating. The evening passed off pleasantly ; . and all 
danger of crossing the river was obviated by the com- 
pany remaining till eight o’clock the following morning. 
After treating all to a cup of coffee, the carriages and 
other vehicles were ordered up, and the company 
conducted safelv to their homes. 
