Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/219

Rh fruit, flowers, pulque, &c. All the waste ground near the church was covered with green booths, and there was a great crowd of carriages and horsemen, and people on foot. The troops were drawn out, escorting the procession to the church. But though the scene was curious, as the remnant of an old established ceremony, and the Indians, with their booths and flowers, and great show of fruit, were all very picturesque, the sun was so intense, that after walking about a little while, and buying tunas and nuts and peaches, we returned home, together with the Güera Rodriguez, who was in the carriage with us, and giving us a lively description of what this fête used to be in former days. Had a visit the same morning from the Señora M, whom I think even handsomer by daylight, than she appeared to be at the opera; not always the case with dark beauties.

26th.—Another representation of Vaccaj's Romeo and Giulietta, with the second appearance of La Ricci. Music and Ricci seem considered a failure. The Señori Césari made the handsomest of Romeos, as usual, but was ill, and out of spirits. The Opera as a whole was coldly received; the boxes and pit were nearly empty, and La Ricci seems unlikely to gain any favor with the public, though it must be confessed that she looked better, was more becomingly dressed, and both sang and acted better than the preceding night. Yesterday we went to a soirée at the Minister's. Madame Castellan and her Tenor were there, and had come from a dinner given by a rich curate to the whole corps operatique,