Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/258

238 of the oidor prevented a repetition of the previous disorder. During the early hours quiet reigned throughout the city, and the authorities, fearing no danger, neglected to take further precautions.

The viceroy, however, was ill at ease. Leaving his breakfast untouched, he repaired to the convent of Santo Domingo to hear mass, and his appearance was greeted with a murmur of disapproval by the assembled worshippers, who regarded him as the cause of their present sufferings. About four o'clock in the afternoon he attended service at the Augustine convent, and thence proceeded, as was his custom, to the convent of San Francisco. The usual procession ended, he entered the convent to converse with the friars, when suddenly the sound of tumult, accompanied by the report of fire-arms, was heard. The viceroy started up to go to the palace, but in this he was prevented by his few attendants, and by the friars, who, gathering about him, represented the danger of such an attempt, the streets being already filled with excited natives, who with loud cries were hurrying from all quarters toward the plaza.

But five hundred fanegas of corn were received at the public granary on this day, and by five o'clock in the afternoon the supply was exhausted, while there were still many to be served. This caused a great commotion among the native women, during which one of them fell to the ground, whether intentionally is not known, and was trampled upon and injured by her companions.

The rôle of the previous day is again performed, but with more fatal results. The injured woman is placed on the back of an Indian, who runs with her to the baratillo, and thence, having been joined by a number of the saramullas, to the palace of the archbishop, the crowd following with wild cries and shouts of rage. A demand to see the archbishop is again made, and is again denied by the attendants, whereupon they are