Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/165

Rh Behold, now they bind him, they buffet him, they smite him with the palms of their hands, they lead him away to the high priest.

All this was enacted in succession; though sometimes the curate was obliged to repeat the same thing several times before they recollected what to do. "And already, in anticipation of the iniquitous sentence, behold what is written." This alluded to a paper fastened upon a pole, which a man held above the heads of the crowd, and on which was written, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, President of Upper Galilee."

And now, escorted by Judas and the multitude, the Saviour was borne through the crowd, in conclusion of the prendimiento. The curate wound up his discourse by an exhortation to abstain from sin, which had been the cause of this awful event. I regret to state that at this very moment, a man poked his hand into A's pocket, who turned very sharply round, and asked him what he wanted; "Nada, Señorito;" (nothing, sir,) said he with an innocent smile, showing two rows of teeth like an ivory railing, but at the same time disappearing pretty swiftly amongst the crowd; who now all began to move, and to follow the procession, the band striking up a gallope. In the evening we returned to San Angel, and visited the lighted churches there. As it was late when we entered the parroquia, (parish church) the lights were nearly all extinguished, and a few alone of the devout were still kneeling before a figure of our Saviour in chains. ..