CiiAP. III. RELIGIOUS PEOCESSIONS. 89 



giiese, but I think they show a purer devotional feeling ; 

 and in conversation I have always found them to be 

 more rational in religious views than the lower orders of 

 Portuguese. As to the Indians ; with the exception of 

 the more civilized families residing- near the larsfe 

 towTis, they exhibit no religious sentiment at all. They 

 have their own patron saint, St. Thome, and celebrate 

 his anniversary in the orthodox way, for they are fond 

 of observing all the formalities ; but they think the 

 feasting to be of equal importance with the church 

 ceremonies. At some of the festivals, masquerading 

 forms a large part of the proceedings, and then the 

 Indians really shine. They get up capital imitations of 

 wild animals, dress themselves to represent the Caypor 

 and other fabulous creatures of the forest, and act their 

 parts throughout mth gTeat cleverness. Wlien St. Thome's 

 festival takes place, every employer of Indians knows 

 that all his men \vill get drunk. The Indian, generally too 

 shy to ask directly for cashaga (iTim), is then very bold ; 

 he asks for a frasco at once (two-and-a-half bottles), and 

 says, if interrogated, that he is going to fuddle in 

 honour of St. Thome. 



In the city of Para, the provincial government assists 

 to augment the splendour of the religious holidays. 

 The processions which traverse the principal streets 

 consist, in the first place, of the image of the saint, and 

 those of several other subordinate ones belononng: to the 

 same church ; these are borne on the shoulders of re- 

 spectable householders, who volunteer for the purpose : 

 sometimes you will see your neighbour the gTocer or the 

 carpenter groaning under the load. The priest and his 



