A WEALTHY LADY IN “ BLOOMER.” 
29 
“Washington House,” took supper, surveyed the town, and 
retired. At about three in the morning, I was aroused by a 
strange noise. On going to the window I saw a procession of 
nuns and priests passing through the street, escorted by a band 
of music. They presented a strange appearance. The priests 
were dressed in black robes and tights, wearing black hats with 
broad brims, rolled up and fastened to the crown; the nuns, 
with white scarfs passing over the head and sweeping the 
ground, each carried a lighted taper, presenting the appearance 
of a procession of ghosts. They would all join in chanting some 
wild air, when the band would play the chorus. Nothing could 
be more impressive than such a scene as this. Aroused from 
sleep at the dead of night, by such wild strains, uttered in such 
impassioned tones, as if pleading for mercy at the very gates of 
despair. They seemed like doomed spirits, wandering about 
without a guiding star, under the ban of excommunication. 
I rose early in the morning, bathed in the Pacific, and after 
breakfast mounted for Gorgona, where I arrived in the evening. 
I went to a rancho , half a mile distant, for sugar-cane for my 
horse. I was waited upon by the proprietress who accompanied 
me to the cane-field, and used the machet with her own hands. 
After cutting a supply for the horse, she presented me with a 
piece for my own use, which I found extremely palatable. This 
lady is one of the most extensive landholders in New Grenada, 
and one of the most wealthy. She lived in a thatched hovel, 
the sides entirely open, with the earth for a floor. Her husband 
was entirely naked, and seemed to devote his attention to the 
care of the children, of whom there were not less than a dozen, 
all dressed like “Pa.” She dressed in “Bloomer,” i. e., she 
wore a half-yard of linen, and a palm-leaf hat. My horse was 
stolen during the night. I went to the Alcalde next morning, 
offered him $5 reward, and before night I was obliged to invest 
another real in sugar-cane for my worthy animal. Money here 
is a much more effectual searcher than eyes, particular^ for 
stolen horses. 
After remaining a few days I again started for Panama. It 
was after noon, and after riding some distance my horse was 
taken sick. I stopped until evening, when I again mounted, 
but was soon obliged to dismount and prepare for spending the 
