The Polynesian., 1841-11-27

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in circuit. Its famous Aqueduct is a
grand work. 1t is more than ten miles
in length, supported on bold and lof-
iy arches. and gives the city an air of
great magniiccnce as you approach ii
from the side towards Mexico, The IIo-
tel where we stopped was much superior
to the one at Guadalajara, and we were
allowed the luxury of fine warm bath,
which we duly appreciated after our ma
ny dusty days journey.
We remained at Qucrctaro but one
night. and passing through several name
less little " Hacicndos " or farm houses,
arrived at the towns of Arroji Lara and
San Juan del Rio, the latter of which is
also celebrated for its fair, we arrived at
the famous city of Mexico, June 18th.
1t was the greatest holiday the Mexicans
have, and i'm all the towns through which
we had passed since leaving Qucrctaro we
had seen great preparations going on for
the celebration of this festival of the
q" Corpus Christi" We had heard much
of the spendor with which this anniversa-
ry is celebrated in the city Of Mexico, and
we had made all haste to arrive in order
to witness it; bnt our Positions, early in
the morning had got tipscy in honor of
the day, and were totally unmanageable.
Our appearance this morning was most
grotesQue, as we entered the far famed
valley of Mexico, with one of our postil-
ions sitting with his face to the tail of his
mule, to which he was holding fast, sing
ING and waving his hand, and looking IN
at us with drunken gravity. Our coach
was all covered with mud the wheels
braced with coarse pieces of wood lashcd
on with an abundance of rope, our mules
and harness alike worn out, ourselves dir
ty and shabby, while muskets, fowling
pieces, cutlasscs and pistols were sticking
out of the sides of the coach in all direc-
tons. We tried to bring our coachman
to his senses, but in vain, as ne sat or
danced about now on one mule, now on
another, with all the gestures of a harle-
quin, causing shouts of laughter to the
multtudes who throngcd the road on their
way to the scene of the great celebration.
We at last gave up the attempt, and as
we were not afraid of being recognized
by any of our acquaintances, threw our
selves back and roarcd with laughter at
our ludcrous appearance, and the COM
ical absurdities of our postllion in this
way we made our "grand cntrec" into
the city of Mexico, too late to witness the
grand procession, which was passing as
we entered The streets through which
the procession passed were shaded by
awnings and filled with immense crowds,
which rendered it impossible for us to
get near the Hotel where we were to stop,
as well as to see the procession. Not
wishing to get out of our coach for fear
that we should be taken for highwaymen
in our warllke costume, we were obliged
to drive round the most remote streets of
the city for several hours before the crowds
had dispersed sufficiently for us to gain
our hotel crowds of well dressed people
were hurrying through the streets, all of
whom stared at our cortege, as if we were
monsters escaped from caravan, at which
did not at all wonder. At last the
grand procession being over we reached
the hotel, which is fine establishment
kept by an Englishman. Here we were