the future. That night there were
many more illuminations and fireworks than there had been on the
previous Wednesday. At nightfall our collegians of San Joseph formed
a procession remarkable enough to have appeared in Madrid. At the head
were three triumphal chariots. In the first were the clarion-players;
in the second the singers, singing motets and ballads; and in the
third various musical instruments--harps, guitars, rebecks, etc. Next
came the standard of the immaculate conception, carried by Don Luis
Faxardo, a student and a brother of the governor. At his side came Don
Geronimo de Silva, master-of-camp and general of the artillery, and
Don Fernando Centene, general of the galleys. Then came the alcaldes,
the regidors, and other gentlemen, all on horseback and very richly
dressed. These were followed by all the collegians, also on horseback
two by two, wearing their usual robes of brown silk with facings made
of fine scarlet cloth, and with shoulder-stripes of lace. Their caps
were a blaze of gold and precious stones. About their necks they
all wore many chains and jewels. Each of the prominent nobility of
the city had ahead of him, as a body-guard, six or eight servants,
with large tapers of white wax in their hands. They carried staffs
having upon them large placards with various pictures, letters, and
hieroglyphics, all appropriate to the occasion. Next came a very
prominent collegian carrying a staff. Upon it was a placard with
the oath (which they took the following day) always to defend the
immaculate conception of the most holy Virgin. Finally came a very
beautiful triumphal chariot drawn by two savages, and decorated with
many arches of flowers and gilded figures of angels. In the midst of
these and among a great number of lights went, enthroned, a beautiful
carved figure of our Lady of the Conception. Before the chariot was
a band of clarion-players. They followed eight children dressed in
silk garments and carrying silver candles. They represented angels
with candles in their hands, singing and reciting in praise of the
Virgin. After the chariot came Original Sin, tied with a chain, and
so well made up for his part that he became a mark for the blows and
pinches of the people. Next day there was another very magnificent
fiesta, in which a dance was given by more than sixty Japanese,
who danced and sang to the accompaniment of various instruments,
according to their custom.

After this, on Sunday, the O