522 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



mention some of them. I lived for some time in a little sea-town which 

 serves as a watering place to the inhabitants of Lima, and which is con- 

 nected with that city by a railroad of about thirty miles. This town is 

 situated in a very arid part of the coast, but on a beautiful bay which 

 offers a fine opportunity for fishing; consequently a good many fisher 

 men live in this town. In these out-of-the-way places the Bonian Cath- 

 olic priests still exercise a powerful influence, which is decidedly waning 

 in the large cities with a mixed population. On a certain day in July 

 the fishermen have their festival, and on that day about a dozen priests 

 and monks come from Lima to add to the proper observance of the sa- 

 cred day. In the morning, images of St. Peter and the Virgin Mary, 

 surrounded by banners, are, amid the thunder of artillery, carried 

 through every street of the little town ; at the head of the procession 

 are seen the monks and priests, the alcalde, and the harbor-master, fol- 

 lowed by all the fishermen with their wives and children, bareheaded in 

 spite of the burning rays of the sun, and carrying lighted candles, all 

 marching with a slow measured step. After the procession has passed 

 through every street they go to the wharf and into gaily decorated 

 boats. The priests solemnly bless the fish and address sermons to them 

 This ends the religious part of the festival, and the fishermen spend the 

 rest of the day in boisterous merriment, dancing, drinking, cock-fight- 

 ing, &c. The priests do not fail to make this day as profitable to them- 

 selves as possible. They placed the images inside a tent, and by paying 

 a small sum every true believer — I was the only unbeliever in the town — 

 could go in and have the extreme pleasure of kissing the foot of either 

 St. Peter or the Virgin Mary. As far as I could observe, St. Peter had 

 the larger number of worshippers. The festivities were continued till 

 late at night, but on the following day everything went again its usual 

 course. 



Bespeetfully, yours, 



H. G. KEUUSE. 



