SLAVERY.— RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS. 23 



attention of a stranger is sure to be arrested by 

 g'ang's of them heavily laden^ proceeding* at a jog*- 

 trot^ timing- their steps to a monotonous song* and 

 the noise of a tin rattle filled with stones^ carried by 

 their leader. AVhat their domestic condition and ] 

 treatment may be^ I know not^ but^ among* the , 

 slaves one sees out of doors^ the frequency of iron 

 collars round the neck^ and even masks of tin^ con- 

 cealing* the lower part of the face^ and secured be- 

 hind with a padlock^ would seem to indicate extreme 

 brutality in those capable of resorting* to such means 

 of punishment. Yet these^ I was told^ were rare 

 exceptions^ the Brazilians not being worse task- 

 masters than the people of other slave-holding coun- 

 tries^ — and such may be the case. 



Whatever he may think of the true state of reli- 

 gious feelings it soon becomes obvious to a stranger 

 that great care is taken to celebrate the numerous 

 festivals of the Church with all possible pomp and 

 splendour. One day I happened to encounter a 

 procession in honour of St. Januarius^ the patron 

 saint of Rio. The number of ecclesiastics taking a 

 part amounted to several hundreds^ and a body of 

 military brought up the rear. The streets and ^^•in- 

 dows were crowded with people in their holiday 

 costume^ bands of music w^ere playing^ bells were 

 ringing, flowers were scattered about and showered 

 down from the houses. The profusion of tinsel and 

 embroidery was very great, and the balconies and 



