Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/136

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LETTER THE NINTH.

Visits from Spaniards — Visit from the President — Disquisition — Poblana Dress — Bernardo the Matador — Bull-Fight extraordinary — Plaza de Toros — Fireworks — Portrait of C——n — Fancy-Bail — Dress — Costume of the Patronesses — Beauty in Mexico — Doctor's Visit — Cards of faire part — Marquesa de San Roman — Toilette in Morning Visits of Ceremony — Attempt at Robbery — Murder of a Consul — La Güera Rodriguez — Dr. Plan — M. de Humboldt — Aneedote — Former Customs.

5th January.

Yesterday (Sunday) a great day here for visiting after mass is over. We had a concourse of Spaniards, all of whom seemed anxious to know whether or not I intended to wear a Poblana dress at the fancy ball, and seemed wonderfully interested about it. Two young ladies or women of Puebla, introduced by Señor —— came to proffer their services in giving me all the necessary particulars, and dressed the hair of Josefa, a little Mexican girl, to shew me how it should be arranged; mentioned several things still wanting, and told me that every one was much pleased at the idea of my going in a Poblana dress. I was rather surprised that every one should trouble themselves about it. About twelve o'clock the president, in full uniform, attended by his aides-de-camp, paid me a visit, and sat about half an hour, very