we all like to have our feet ready to jump into mud or water,
for our roads are not yet good. These slippers are called 'chinelas'
(che nay'las). They have no heel and just a catch to put the toe
in. They have no laces. With them we slide along the ground. But we
cannot back up straight, or run last in them. If we wish to go back
we must turn around, so as to keep our chinelas on our toes. The
young people do not wear stockings in our warm climate, where one
lives close to Nature,--too close sometimes, when the snake bites."

"But taken all together, what a happy Eden this is for a boy or a
girl," I added.

CHAPTER XIX

THE "ADIOS" FEAST

Next day as we were walking down the road to the good-by feast,
I noticed a crowd gathered in a circle, and stooping over.

"What are they doing; digging gold?" I asked.

"No, they are making game-fowl fight," Moro replied. "They wager
money on which will be the winner and put the other to flight. The
boys and men get very much excited."

"This good-by feast in your honor, before you return home, is called
a 'fiesta' (fe ais'ta)," explained Filippa. "Father and mother and
Fil have spoken to the Padre, and the barrio-elders; and everything
is arranged."

"But what is a 'barrio'?" I inquired.

"It means a village, a ward," replied Filippa.

I could hear bands and orchestras gathering. Here and there were tall
bamboos bent over the paths, and from their arches hung banners and
colored paper lanterns.

Carromatos (car ro ma' tos), small carriages drawn by little black
ponies, were bringing people in. The men and boys were dressed in
white duck, as though they were going aboard yachts.

In front of the houses and the Iglesia (church) and convent were hung
flags, festoons, streamers, wreaths, and bunting.

Flowers and palm leaves were strewn along the path that the procession
would take.

Then we all started. The procession was led by the bands to the
Iglesia, where, from the high campanile tower, the church bells were
ringing. In the church the good Padre said a few words, and gave us
all his prayers and blessing.

While we were inside, evening had fallen. When we stepped out into the
square, we saw a fairy starry land. Some one had lighted not only the
lanterns and torches, but the larger southern stars of these tropical
islands were shining brightly overhead. Colored rockets were also
shot up into the night.

The barrio-saint--really, the small statue of the