CHAPTER. TIE 
PARA. (concluded.) 
Religious holidays—Marmoset monkeys—Serpents—Insects of the forest—Relations 
of the fauna of the Para district. 
BEForE leaving the subject of Parad, where I resided, as already 
stated, in all eighteen months, it will be necessary to give a more 
detailed account of several matters connected with the customs of the 
people and the Natural History of the neighbourhood, which have 
hitherto been only briefly mentioned. I reserve an account of the 
trade and improved condition of Para in 1859 for the end of this 
narrative. 
During the first few weeks of our stay many of those religious festivals 
took place, which occupied so large a share of the time and thoughts of 
the people. These were splendid affairs, wherein artistically-planned 
processions through the streets, accompanied by thousands of people, 
military displays, the clatter of fireworks, and the clang of military music, 
were superadded to pompous religious services in the churches. To 
those who had witnessed similar ceremonies in the southern countries 
of Europe, there would be nothing remarkable perhaps in these doings, 
except their taking place amidst the splendours of tropical nature ; but 
to me they were full of novelty, and were besides interesting as exhibit- 
ing much that was peculiar in the manners of the people. The festivals 
celebrate either the anniversaries of events concerning saints, or those 
of the more important transactions in the life of Christ. To them have 
been added, since the Independence, many gala days connected with the 
events in the Brazilian national history ; but these have all a semi- 
religious character. The holidays had become so numerous, and 
interfered so much with trade and industry towards the year 1852, that 
the Brazilian Government was obliged to reduce them; obtaining the - 
necessary permission from Rome to abolish several which were of 
minor importance. Many of those which have been retained are 
declining in importance since the introduction of railways and steam- 
boats, and the increased devotion of the people to commerce ; at the 
time of our arrival, however, they were in full glory. The way they 
were managed was in this fashion. A general manager or “ Juiz” for 
each festa was elected by lot every year in the vestry of the church, and 
to him were handed over all the paraphernalia pertaining to the particular 
festival which he was chosen to manage: the image of the saint, the 
banners, silver crowns, and so forth. He then employed a number of 
people to go the round of the parish and collect alms towards defraying 
44 
