We now found that they were official delegates from the different towns, and that they had been sent from their homes to give the governor New Year's greetings.

Having carefully arrayed himself for the meeting, the governor took his position in the wide balcony already referred to, with two officials of the palace stationed near, one on either side.

The Indians represented perhaps twenty-five different towns, the delegation from each town varying from three or four to fifteen or twenty persons.

All were dressed in their cleanest garments, and all carried their long staves of office, most of which had ribbons of bright colors streaming from them.
The secretary of the governor arranged these delegations in their order, and they were presented one by one to the chief executive.

As each delegation was presented, its members scraped and bowed, and the _presidente_ and _secretario_ kissed the governor's hand.