The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-10-09

hrccchcs nj twenty, and wear them until Tor
IL. without change or ublutiou, nnd,oyer all,
'pucc Il torn aud hluckened hat, aud n tulter-
rd blanket begrmmcd with abominnIion; let
him have wild eyes and shining teeth, ahd
lpniurcs pincheh by famine into sharpness;
breast barred and Drowned, and Qf iGnlnlcs)
with two or three miniatures of the same
species toitcrng after her, aud another GER
tliuy strapped to her buck;combine all these
in your imagination, and you have receipt
Tor II Mexican lcpero.
IN the Indian population which pours into
the capital from the lakes, must say that
there is apparently more worth and charnc-
ter. You see them lolling about in their
honts on the canal, and passing and repnss-
ing in their canoes, plying between the city
and ChaIco aud Hc2cnco. IL is n beautiful
sight 10 behold these tiny vessels skim like
floating gardens to the qunys in the morning,
iadcu to the waters edge with the fruits,
flowers, vegetables, that hide tho skti that
bears them. The old houses in this neigh
borhood rising ont of the cannls,the sluggish
waters and the dark multitude of the better
classes in tnnciit dresses, reminds one strong
~ ofVcnice.
Skirting tho canal and lending TO the plain
which adioins the Chenampas, or former font
ing gardens is the Passed de Ia Vega, a pub
llc drive trcqucnted by the beau monde, both
in coach and on horseback during the season
ofLcnt.-Scnrccy an afternoon passes, ut
that period of tho year, that the observer will
not find the canal covered with gay boat Ionds
of Indians, passing homeward from market,
dancing, singing, laughing, stunning the
guitar, and crowned with wreHths ofPoppcs.
! do not know the origin of tho custom of
wearing the forgGtfiI flower, but it is both
healthier and more poetic oblivion than that
rcsortcd to by many folks in other lands, Ht-
ter day ortoil. Turning once moro west
ward, we again reach the great square. The
departure ofthe President from the palace
has attracted n crowd. The adjoining mark
ct, ever filed with people, pours forth its
multitudes in the square. First, there is the
nquador. or water carrier,wth his two earth
crn iars-oue suspended by lenthern belt
thrown round his forehead and resting on
his back and the other suspended from the
back Of his head in front of him, preserving
the equilibrium. Next there is tho Indian
with huge coop of chickens and turkeys, or
n crate Of Garthern ware, or u panicr of oran-
Ces, borne on his back like the aquador's jar.
Then n woman, with peas, or ducks, or fish
from the lakes; another with potatoes; anoth-
or drives along poor stuffed Ass, laden with
rndishes and onions, and all the members of
this motley crowd are crying their wares and
merchandise at the top ofthGir voices. II is
Bubel.
Amid the throng trends onward, with step
side is irinr, aud hard by couple ofpriests
in their graceful bIachlcloaks and shovel hats.
In the shadow ola pillar oftlle portals sneaks
Il miserable looking wretch, wrapped in his
tattercd blOnket---a lcpro, porter, bcggar,
thief as the occasion offers; aud he takes nd
vantage of the latter employment,iu this mo-
Iment of excitement, to case an unsuspicious
stranger of his handkerchief. A tnkle OF "A
bell al the door of the cathedral sacristy, and
n n m he raj honor
at the palace gate, give warning ola change
Of scene. Slowly issues a gaily painted
coach, with glass windows mall sides drawn
by spotted mules, priest in his vestmens
sits within--a band of boys walk on each
side, chanting hymns and in moment
3 deathGke stiffness perVades the whole square
from the tradesmun, selling his tapes under
the portals, to the thief, who has barely time
10 conceal the handkerchefin his dirty blan-
ket, the whole crowd is uncovered and knecl-.
ing; the host is passing to the house Of some
dying Catholic. The carriage turns Il corn
or, and the square is alive ugain-the trades
man to sell, the lcpero to steal, aud tho les
son of death is forgotten forever.
Turning westward from the square, we
reached the Alameda, The Alameda is
honutifu grove of forest trees, planted on IL
bout ten acres Of soft and Iuxuriant soil. The
wood, which is walled and protected by gates
closed every evening as the bells toll for ara
cion, is intcrsected with walks and surround
ed by Il carriage road. Fountains fling up
their waters where the paths cross each 9th
er, and the ground Beneath tho fun gown
tree is filed with flowers and shrubbery.
The great centre fountain is surmountCd by q,
gilded figure of Liberty, and glded lions
spout forth the water at its feet. This,and the
other smaller jets,in pleasantcr and more Sc
cluded hooks, are circled with stone seats.
II is the fashion to come here in carriages and
on horseback every evening, Except during
Lcnt) and to drive round and round the en-
closure, on The soft roads in the dense shade
until the vesper bell-or,to draw up in line
on the side Of one of the highways, while the
cavaliers pass up and down in review, or
prnttie away half an hour mt the coach win
dow Of SEINE renowned belle.
Directly west of the Alameda, and on the
same street, is the Paseo Nuevo, another de-
lightful drive of Il mile IN length, bordercd
with paths and trees, & divided by fountains
adorned with statuary and sculpture. Pass
ing cut OF the western gate of the Alameda,
Ehe fashonables every evening take turn or
two along this drive. On festivals it is crow
ded. All the equipages oftho city'must be
there and it is the mode for every person of
consideration, or who desires consideration,
to possess an eqnipage. 1t is not thought
EXACTLY proper for IA lady ever to walk, cX-
cept to mass-or sometimes when she goes
shopping. Tie coach, therefore, on all gala
days, IS sure TO appear Of the Pasco with its
fair burthen dressed in the French style as
Tor dinner party or a ball. When first ar
rived i'll Mexico, it was rare to see Il bonnet
on such occasions; but that awkward appen-
dage OF fashionable costume was becoming
gradually in vogue before left. For an
hour or more i: is the custom to pass I'D and
down the sides of the Paseo, nodding and
smiling at the cavaliers, who show off their