Page:Here and there in Yucatan - miscellanies (IA herethereinyucat00lepl 0).djvu/54

 of the child, the date of its birth, and a floral design or verses.

Having baptized the baby, Cura Rejon came to the house of its parents; then the bottles were opened, the host himself handing glasses of ale to the ladies, and inviting the gentlemen to help themselves. He expressed much regret at not having a band of music as intended—the musicians had been called to Island Mugeres—but hoped to do better next time.

It was remarkable that hardly a word was uttered on this occasion—the silence was almost solemn; whereas at the wake there had been much animated conversation. Do they think death less to be regretted than birth? It is a fact that in those countries anciently, when a child was born, the first words addressed to it were: "Alas for thee! thou hast come to this world to suffer and weep." Looking upon a corpse, they invariably say: "At rest! to suffer and toil no more!" If the deceased is an infant, they wreathe it in garlands, exclaiming: "Another little angel!"

Cura Rejon was called from the baptism party to a death-bed. Bidding us good night, he said: "Ah yes! one after another I lay them to rest as they fall like autumn leaves around me, but there will be no