1838.] FUNERALS AND AMUSEMENTS. 47 



plume. The hearse is preceded by altar-boys in their 

 church dresses, and surrounded by the black servants of the 

 deceased, all bearing lighted wax candles. Arrived at the 

 church, or chapel, where the services are to be performed, 

 the coffin is temporarily deposited near the altar, and the 

 friends and relatives arrange themselves along the aisles. 

 All the spectators having been furnished with lighted tapers, 

 the priests enter from the sacristy . arrayed in their rich 

 sacerdotal vestments. Clouds of odorous smoke are emitted 

 from the swinging gold and silver censers, and mass and the 

 funeral rites are said from splendidly illuminated service- 

 books. This done, the pall is removed, the coffin opened, 

 and holy water thrown over the dead, after which the body 

 is taken to the place of interment. 



A favorite burial-place is the Campo Santo, or cemetery, 

 near the Imperial chapel. This is an amphitheatre, with 

 high walls in which the vaults are built, surrounding a 

 flower-garden. The coffins are deposited in niches just large 

 enough for their admission, which are closed up with mason- 

 work. 



Notwithstanding their reserve on ordinary occasions, the 

 citizens of Rio Janeiro are fond of amusements. There are 

 three theatres in the city, all of which are well attended. 

 Hunting, riding and fishing, are favorite pastimes. White- 

 jacket balls, so called from the fact that the gentlemen who 

 attend them appear in white jackets and trowsers, and the 

 ladies in white dresses, without ornaments or jewelry, are 

 held monthly at Praya Grande ; and similar entertainments 

 are frequently given at Gloria Botofogo, and other small 

 towns in the neighborhood of the capital. 



(6.) The great excess of the slave over the white popula- 

 tion in Rio Janeiro, is soon noticed by the stranger. The 

 former are nearly five times more numerous than the latter. 

 In the city, burdens are carried almost exclusively by slaves, 

 and scores of them may be seen at all hours of the day, 

 bearing their water buckets, or staggering under packages 

 of hides or bags of coffee. They usually go in gangs of 



