The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-06-21
ElISO iAIknA ~ lEGUSo
fHE FESTIVAL AND ITS
CONSEQUENCES.
A SCENE IN NAVARRO,

dropped the young heritage, and the air.
lperfumed with odoufs. Not only d the
f ce of nature brightly smile, but some
festive ceremony was evidently about TO be
Ipellrmed in the village of-,n Navarro
1 Numbers Of young girls were seated at theil
cottage doors, weaving garlands of spring
flowers, whilst several youths looked Oh
and encouraged them. Here and there al
oId man wrapped in rus,y-brown cloak
limos, as ancient as himself, stood observ.
tng the juvenile groups, and on The ,hres.
lhoId of a miserable hoVel sat an old woman
singing wild air, accompanied by un.
couIh gestures, but whether they belokene(
Joy, grief or anger, 1t would have been
IfliruIt for a stranger to determine.
Al length the damsels rose, each bearing
IN her hand the blooming wreath she had
ontwined, and the whole party proceeded
% small plaza or square, in front of the
church, where waving their chaple,s grace
,ambourine. and mountan.pipe, called
he gdefd. the tones of which strongly
resemble those Of the bagpipes. Nor was
The human voice wanting; the harsh and
liscordant chant of The beldame was again
heard, and by her side lean rickety boy
bou, fourteen with wiry tlsxen hair, i'm
hecile look and uumeaning grin, beat time
" cIappng his hands. The dancers be-
rame more and more animated every mo
nen,, the fine hair Of the Young women
which had hitherto been plated and arrang-
ID with natural good lasle, was by some
sudden process, allowed 10 fall loosely OF
heir shoulders, and al the same momen
Zach maiden placed chaplet on her head,
he young men singing larger garlands ac
ross their breasts, like the broad ribbons o.
,hivaric orders.
At the conclusion of the dance, the grea
rates of the palace were thrown open, a
he eastern end the alter, resplendent from
he effect OF numerous large wax candle
ad an imposing appearance. The cuta,o
priest, habited in richly embroidered vest
nents, stood under the portico, and spread
ing forth his hands bestowed a blessing
On the people, who knelt reveren,ially Il
leceive it.
While this act of devotion was in pro
gress, loud creakng sound was heard, ,an
presently small body of men we're seel
advancing along the road which rurs clos
by the square Their heads were oovere
with the flat cap called La Boina;lhey wor
coarse brown cloth jackets, and loose whit
linen lrowsers, their waists being encircle
with broad red wooden sashes below which
ard in front, were strapped their cananas
,r cartrdge-pouches, instead of shoes the
had alpargatss, or pempen sandals, the.
we're armed with musketS, and bayonel
without scabbards were stuck in their belts
i This vanguard was followed by four vain
leach drawn by Two oxen, guided by
peasant bearing long staff with goad
lone end. The oxen moved very slowly, tn
creaking noise being produced by the eve
, luions of the heavy wooden aXIetree OF ib
wains which were followed by a muc
larger party, clothed and armed IN the sam
manner as that in advance, the whoe bt
Jog commanded by an officer in uniform
Three of Ihe bullock cars contained each
rInew bronze mortar of moderate size, IN
fourth was laden with ammunition boxes.O
their arrival in the plaza, the escort unco'
cred their heads, knel and received tn
: priests benediction. The assembage the
rose, the iambourine and mountain PIP
struck up, the old woman resumed her On
y. cordsn, song,,he half w'ted urchln claPPe
r. his lean hands more vehsmenlly than eve
d he young men andmaidens moved 'owar'
lo he wains with solemn dancing step, al
finally, the girs decorated the horns al
" neck of the oxen with The wrealhs 'h'
76 had been gracefully waving during &
ance, while The youths encircIed the me