CANARY ISLANDS. 103 



Diseases. The most common maladies, or those which 

 may be regarded as endemical, are obstinate gastric affec- 

 tions, oftentimes accompanied with loss of strength ; putrid 

 and chronical diarrhceas ; low and debilitating fevers, 

 scorbutic cachexies ; and cutaneous eruptions of various 

 kinds. Most of these diseases are confined to the lower 

 classes of the natives, and seem to derive their origin from 

 the faulty nutriment of their food throughout these islands. 

 The more wealthy portion of the inhabitants generally 

 enjoy excellent health, and live to a " good old age." 



Religious Customs. It is hardly necessary to remark, 

 that in all Spanish provinces, the catholic religion is uni- 

 versally tolerated, and that the discipline of the church is, 

 perhaps, more rigidly carried into effect, than in any other 

 country. It will likewise be quite as unnecessary for me 

 to repeat the general laws and ceremonies of that church, 

 as they are invariably the same in all countries. But as 

 far as local customs are concerned, which deviate from the 

 general rules of the church, it may not be improper to 

 name a few. 



Some of their acts of penance are extremely singular. 

 At the feast of Candlemas, which is annually held at 

 Candelaria, it has been no unusual thing to observe women 

 with their arms extended, and five lighted tapers in each 

 hand, shuffling on their knees, at the distance of a furlong 

 up to the altar of the chapel where the miracle-working 

 virgin was placed, leaving a bloody track behind them, an 

 undeniable proof of the pitiable condition of their knees. 

 And men have as often been seen walking over the same 

 ground with their arms extended in the form of a cross, 

 with an iron crow-bar bound to each. 



Besides the regular religious orders, there are several 

 associations here bearing the name of los eoJf radios, or 

 brotherhoods. They are exclusively composed of laymen, 

 whose duties only consist in taking charge of the shrine 

 or altar of which they are devotees at las funciones ; of 

 attending processions with their distinctive banners and 

 uniform dress, and of accompanying the funerals of the 

 members of their own fraternity. They raise pecuniary 

 subscriptions among themselves, and solicit public dona- 



