CiiAP. III. THE HOLY WEEK. 93 



panoramic and other exhibitions, to which the pubHc 

 is admitted gratis. In the course of each evening, large 

 displays of fireworks take place, all arranged according 

 to a published progTamme of the festival. 



The various ceremonies which take place during Lent 

 seemed to me the most impressive, and some of them 

 were exceedingly well-arranged. The people, both per- 

 formers and spectators, conduct themselves with more 

 gravity on these occasions, and there is no holiday- 

 making. Performances, representing the last events in 

 the life of Christ, are enacted in the churches or streets, 

 in such a way as to remind one of the old miracle plays 

 or mysteries. A few days before Good Friday, a torch- 

 light procession takes place by night from one church 

 to another, in which is carried a large wooden image of 

 Christ bent under the weight of the cross. The chief 

 members of the Government assist, and the whole slowly 

 moves to the sounds of muffled drums. A double 

 procession is managed a few days afterwards. The 

 image of St. Mary is caiTied in one direction, and that 

 of the Saviour in another. Both meet in the middle of 

 one of the most beautiful of the churches, which is pre- 

 viously filled to excess with the multitudes anxious to 

 witness the affecting meeting of mother and son a few 

 days before the crucifixion. The two images are brought 

 face to face in the middle of the church, the crowd falls 

 prostrate, and a lachrymose ' sermon is delivered from 

 the pulpit. The whole thing, as well as many other 

 spectacles arranged during the few succeeding days, is 

 highly theatrical, and well calculated to excite the 

 religious emotions of the people, although, perhaj^s, only 



