Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/164

144 while cheers and salvos appealed to every ear and heart.

Owing to the unhealthiness of the season at Vera Cruz the sovereigns were persuaded to hasten direct to the railway station. The road was open as yet only for a distance of fourteen leagues to Loma Alta, and from here the party proceeded by coaches to Córdoba. Two mishaps occurred on the way, which struck the superstitious as ominous. One was the breaking of the axle of the imperial coach, and the other a rainstorm which extinguished all the torches of the escort. Córdoba was astir and brilliantly illuminated, although the imperial suite arrived before three o'clock in the morning. The whole of May 30th was spent in festīvities, and in receiving deputations, among them one from Indians, who in their humble attire came to tender homage, bringing as tokens the nosegays that from time immemorial had served to welcome the honored guest. "Thou comest like the rainbow to dissipate the clouds of discord; sent by the Almighty, may he give thee strength to save us!"

In this allusion to a heaven-sent being crops out the ancient tradition, connected with Quetzalcoatl, of a white-bearded man who should come from the land of the rising sun and rule the country, bringing peace