120 A SPRING TOUR IX PORTUGAL. 



who rejoice in these pyrotechnics, and who indulged their 

 fancy almost every evening during our stay in the city. 

 Xor was it only on the river and at night that fireworks 

 were in vogue : in broad daylight, when the effect was 

 altogether lost, rockets were frequently sent off. This was 

 especially the case on the morning following our arrival, 

 which was Sunday. We were surprised to find several 

 streets decked with innumerable banners, the w^indows 

 hung with bright draperies and flags and carpets, and soon 

 a band was heard in the distance, and the head of a pro- 

 cession came into view. The road was lined on either side 

 with spectators, who, however, did not seem very intent on 

 the scene, inasmuch as such displays are of frequent occur- 

 rence in Oporto ; but to our unaccustomed eyes, this was 

 the strangest and most fantastic religious procession we had 

 ever seen. First came the cross-bearer, with his atten- 

 dants, all dressed in white ; then a great number of men 

 dressed in red silk cloaks, each carrying a large candle, 

 and forming two lines, leaving a wide lane in the middle. 

 Within this walked a little girl, dressed in the most extra- 

 ordinary garments which (out of a pantomime) one could 

 conceive ; then at wide intervals apart, another child, and 

 then another and another, to the number of ten or twelve. 

 To describe the dresses of these little girls accurately is 

 far beyond my power : but I may say generally that the 

 very gayest coloured silks, profusely trimmed Avith lace, 

 were the chief materials, and that by means of some stiff 

 substance attached to the Avaist, the dresses turned out- 

 Avards and upwards in points ; AA'hile Avings were attached 

 to their shoulders, and they Avere literally loaded Avith the 

 largest-sized specimens of cheap jeAvellery : huge ear-rings 

 depended from their ears, vast necklaces encircled their 

 throats, bracelets clasped their wrists, and their fiucrers 

 Avere literally covered Avith the multitude of rings they 

 wore. Then each little girl bore in her hand some symbol 



