Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/224

204 men. One is carried by the coachmen, another by the aguadores (water-carriers,) a third by the cargadores (porters,) a Herculean race.

First arrived the favorite protectress of all classes, the Virgin of Dolores, surmounted by a velvet canopy, seated on a glittering throne, attired in her sable robes, her brow surmounted by glittering rays, and contracted with an expression of agony; of all representations of the Virgin, the only one which is always lovely, however rudely carved; with that invariably beautiful face of terrible anguish. Then followed the Saviour, bearing the cross; the Saviour crucified, the Virgin supporting the head of her dying son; the Trinity, (the Holy Spirit represented by a dove); all the apostles, from St. Peter with the keys to Judas with the money-bag; and a long train of saints, all brilliantly illuminated and attended by an amazing crowd of priests, monks and laymen. However childish and superstitious all this may seem, I doubt whether it be not as well thus to impress certain religious truths on the minds of a people too ignorant to understand them by any other process. By the time the last saint and angel had vanished, the hour was advanced, and we had still to visit the illuminated churches. Being recommended to divest ourselves of our ornaments before wandering forth amongst the crowd, a matter of some moment to the Señora A, who wore all her diamonds, we left our ear-rings, brooches, &c., in charge of the person who keeps the Academia, and recommenced our pilgrimage.

Innumerable were the churches we visited that