Her whole person is covered with spangles, chains,
and jewels. Opposite this is a thrilling Crucifixion,
the wound in the side bleeding, the arms and legs
gashed, and the pallid countenance expressing the
last agonies of death. The religion of the inhabitants
is a mixture of the Roman Catholic and the super-
stitions of paganism. They are awfully addicted to
ringing bells. Every church and chapel tower holds
several of great size. They are strongly alloyed with
silver and their tones are louder and finer than any I
have ever heard in the United States. " From mom
to dewy eve " 'tis clang, dang, bang, bang, ding dong.
At stated periods of the day, at certain signals from
some old monster bell all the people, no matter how
engaged, at work or at play, in the street or in the
house, imcover rapidly, cross themselves and mutter
a prayer. This universal reverence to the Deity of all
the people at the same time strikes the stranger as a
beautiful and almost sublime custom, and is strongly
contrasted with our manner, for whatever may be



TO MEXICO WITH SCOTT 79

our sentiments we make no outward show of religious
feeling. It is painful to know that these people-
actually do not comprehend the reason of their acts.
