s mountain than the
Mexican monarch shows above the plain.

In the rear of the cathedral, and adjoining it, is an interesting chapel
known as the Capilla de las Animas, "Chapel of the Souls." It is really
a part of the cathedral, though arranged quite separate from it, facing
upon the Calle de las Escalerillas. We find no record of its origin,
though it is said to have been built in 1748 to replace a similar
edifice which was destroyed by fire. The branch of business to which
this chapel is devoted, as we were told upon the spot, was to pray to
the good God to release souls from purgatory! One Concha, a priest who
carried on this lucrative farce until he was eighty-seven years old,
died so long ago as 1755, having, as the church record shows,
"celebrated" over forty-five thousand masses in his time; the amount of
cash received for the same is not set down. As the priests do nothing on
credit, officiating at marriages or funerals, selling indulgences or
performing masses for cash only, this good man must have realized for
his services, in the aggregate, at the very lowest reasonable estimate,
about one million dollars. Undoubtedly high rates were sometimes paid to
get a very "hard case" out of purgatory. Sinners who dreaded a future
state of punishment, as a just reward for their evil deeds on earth,
were accustomed to leave Father Concha a good round sum of money, to
pray them out of the uncomfortable quarters to which they expected to be
consigned after departing from this life. Like a certain shrewd
Irishman, they "accepted" purgatory, fearing they might go further and
fare worse.

CHAPTER VIII.

An Extinct Volcano.--Mexican Mountains.--The Public Institutions of
the Capital.--The Government Palace.--The Museum.--Maximilian's
State Carriage.--A Peculiar Plant.--The Academy of Fine Arts.--
Choice Paintings.--Art School.--Picture Writing.--Native Artists.
--Exquisite Pottery.--Cortez's Presents to Charles V.--A Special
Aztec Art.--The Sacrificial Stone.--Spanish Historical Authorities.
--Public Library.--The Plaza.--Flower Market.--A Morning Visit.--
Public Market.--Concealed Weapons.

The crater of Popocatepetl--being an extinct volcano--is now a valuable
sulphur mine. To obtain this product, it is necessary to descend into
the crater by means of a rope, one of great length being required for
the purpose; and when a certain quantity is secured, it is packed in
mats before being