For many years Caragol, barefooted, had carried this sacred ladder on his shoulder on the day of the fiesta.

Now other men of the sea were enjoying such honor and he, old and half-blind, would be waiting among the public for the procession to pass in order that he might throw himself upon the enormous relic, touching his clothes to the wood.
All his outer garments were sanctified by this contact.

In reality they weren't very many, since he usually strolled about the boat very lightly clad, with the immodesty of a man who sees poorly and considers himself above human preoccupations.
A shirt with the tail always floating, and a pair of pantaloons of dirty cotton or yellow flannel, according to the season, constituted his entire outfit.

The bosom of the shirt was open on all occasions, leaving visible a thatch of white hair.

The pantaloons were fastened together with a single button.