ACROSS THE CONTINENT, WESTWARD TO COBAN. 99 
the bulk of the worshippers. A few men stood or knelt, 
with striped blankets thrown gracefully over their shoul¬ 
ders. Mahogany benches between the side altars gave 
us an opportunity to sit comfortably and study the in¬ 
teresting scene 
before us while 
we listened to 
the very fine or¬ 
chestra (consist¬ 
ing mostly of 
Germans), which 
occupied benches 
in the midst of 
the nave. Far 
away in the loft, 
over the door, a 
bass drum and 
fife, and still far¬ 
ther out of doors 
rockets and ex¬ 
plosions, accom¬ 
panied or empha¬ 
sized the music. 
The sacrament 
of the commu¬ 
nion was being administered to worshippers, — apparently 
in both kinds; the wine in a sort of sop, while the wafer 
was carried by an attendant. All through the long 
service the women remained devoutly kneeling on the 
tiled floor. 
After church the market was more active than usual, 
and we spent the time before almuerzo in lounging 
