came the school children in charge
of their teacher, then boys with paper lanterns of varied shapes
and colors placed on the ends of bamboo poles of greater or less
length and decorated according to the caprice of each boy, since
this illumination was furnished by the children of the barrios, who
gladly performed this service, imposed by the _matanda sa nayon_,
[105] each one designing and fashioning his own lantern, adorning it
as his fancy prompted and his finances permitted with a greater or
less number of frills and little streamers, and lighting it with a
piece of candle if he had a friend or relative who was a sacristan,
or if he could buy one of the small red tapers such as the Chinese
burn before their altars.

In the midst of the crowd came and went alguazils, guardians of
justice to take care that the lines were not broken and the people
did not crowd together. For this purpose they availed themselves of
their rods, with blows from which, administered opportunely and with
sufficient force, they endeavored to add to the glory and brilliance
of the procession--all for the edification of souls and the splendor
of religious show. At the same time that the alguazils were thus
distributing free their sanctifying blows, other persons, to console
the recipients, distributed candles and tapers of different sizes,
also free.

"Senor Alcalde," said Ibarra in a low voice, "do they administer those
blows as a punishment for sin or simply because they like to do so?"

"You're right, Senor Ibarra," answered the Captain-General, overhearing
the question. "This barbarous sight is a wonder to all who come here
from other countries. It ought to be forbidden."

Without any apparent reason, the first saint that appeared was St. John
the Baptist. On looking at him it might have been said that the fame
of Our Savior's cousin did not amount to much among the people, for
while it is true that he had the feet and legs of a maiden and the
face of an anchorite, yet he was placed on an old wooden _andas_,
and was hidden by a crowd of children who, armed with candles and
unlighted lanterns, were engaging in mock fights.

"Unfortunate saint!" muttered the Sage Tasio, who was watching the
procession from the street, "it avails you nothing to have been the
forerunner of the Good Tidings or that Jesus bowed before you! Your
great faith and your austerity avail you nothing, nor the fact that
you died for the truth and your convictions, a