Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/150

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LETTER THE THIRTY-EIGHTH.


New minister — San Angel — Profitable pulque estate — The village — Surrounding scenery — The Indians — The padre — The climate — Holy week in the country — Dramatic representations — Coyohuacan — The Pharisees — Image of the Saviour — Music and dresses — Procession — Catholicism amongst the Indians — Strange tradition — Paul the Fifth — Contrast between a Mexican and a New England village — Love of fireworks — Ferdinand the Seventh — Military ball — Drapeaux.

San Angel, March 30th.

It is a long while since I last wrote; but this week has been employed in moving into the country, and making arrangements for the sale of our furniture, in consequence of our having received official news from Spain of the nomination of a new envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Republic of Mexico. As, on account of the yellow fever in Vera Cruz, we shall not wish to pass through that city later than May, it is necessary to be in readiness to start when the new minister arrives. On Thursday last, we came out to this place within three leagues of Mexico, where Don Francisco Tagle has kindly lent us his unoccupied country house. As we had an infinity of arrangements to make — much to bring out, and much to leave, and all Mexico to see, you