Page:Travels in Mexico and life among the Mexicans.djvu/60

52 interesting, especially the calezas,—two-wheeled vehicles, built somewhat after the pattern of the Cuban volante. These calezas, each drawn by a single horse or mule, on whose back was perched the driver, contained some of the prettiest girls in Merida, dark-skinned as a rule, but with beautiful black hair and eyes, and milk-white teeth.

The group at the consulate could not resist joining in the procession, and a caleza was obtained at once. The prescribed route, from which no one ever varied, was around the Plaza and through the two principal streets. At the corner of one is the famous nunnery, built many years ago, now partially in ruins, since the banishment of the fair inmates. It is said that there exists a