Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/230

202 district. He was otherwise unpopular in society.

Having given offence to the vagabond portion of the community, by his instrumentality in bringing a number of léperos and thieves to merited punishment, many a withering curse and savage glance had been bestowed upon him; and it was whispered that a few resolute ruffians had determined effectually to stifle his vigilance in future.

Adjoining the Accordada, or common prison of the city, in one wing of the building, is a low, ominous-looking room, with a grated window facing the street, known as the dead-house or "morgue" of the capital; and on an elevation inclining downwards to the window, are placed the corpses nightly found within the city and its suburbs.

Mexico has no lack of melancholy sights,—scenes that are enough of themselves to horrify the sensitive, and to fill the mind of the philanthropist with sorrow; yet, of all these, perhaps the most melancholy may be witnessed in the public street, outside the little low barred window of that dreadful room. Heartrending are the shrieks and lamentations often to be heard there! Women bewailing the loss