88 PARA. Chap. III. 



sent out alms-gatherers, but celebrated the whole affair 

 at his own expense, which was sometimes to the extent 

 of several hundred pounds. Each festival lasted nine days 

 (a novena), and in many cases refreshments for the public 

 were provided every evening. In the smaller towns a 

 ball took place two or three evenings during the novena, 

 and on the last day there was a grand dinner. The 

 priest, of course, had to be paid very liberally, especially 

 for the sermon delivered on the Saint's-day or ter- 

 mination of the festival, sermons being extra duty in 

 Brazil. 



There was much difference as to the accessories of 

 these festivals between the interior towns and villages 

 and the capital ; but little or no work was done any- 

 where whilst they lasted, and they tended much to de- 

 moralise the people. It is soon perceived that religion is 

 rather the amusement of the Paraenses than their serious 

 exercise. The ideas of the majority evidently do not 

 reach beyond the belief that all the proceedings are, 

 in each case, in honour of the particular wooden image 

 enshrined at the church. The uneducated Portuguese 

 immigrants seemed to me to have very degi'ading 

 notions of rehgion. I have often travelled in the 

 company of these shining examples of European 

 enlightenment. They generally carry with them, 

 wherever they go, a small image of some favourite 

 saint in their trunks, and when a squall or any other 

 danger arises, their first impulse is to rush to the cabin, 

 take out the image and clasp it to their lips, whilst 

 uttering a prayer for protection. The negroes and 

 mulattos are similar in this respect to the low Portu- 



