LIFE IN ENTRE RIOS, MINAS GERAES. 161 



objectionable, according to our more enlightened ideas. 

 The service was concluded by another litany. 



April 10. To-night was the procession of Nossa Sen- 

 hora dos Ddres. It was composed of the sixty girls, the 

 Virgin carried by four men, the Host, and a band, and was 

 followed by the usual crowds. After walking all through 

 the town there was a sermon in church ; and at 10.30 the 

 image of the Virgin, which had remained for three hours in 

 the church, was escorted in procession to the chapel of 

 St. Antonio. 



The townsfolk are much disturbed at our working every 

 day in the Holy Week except Good Friday ; but, though 

 I am very sorry to appear to do anything to give them 

 offence, I cannot see wherein our working in the office 

 differs from their keeping their shops open all day. How- 

 ever, nolens volens, the world must proceed. 



For the last two days I have been living with the sword of 

 Damocles over my head, expecting when I returned in the 

 evening to find my self-invited guests installed. I have 

 laid in a store of provisions for them rice, beans (feijoes\ 

 eggs, and salt cod (baccalhdd}. I reluctantly gave permis- 

 sion for three or four men to sleep in one room Roberts' 

 dressing-room but said I had no accommodation for 

 ladies. In this tittle-tattling little town it has been spread 

 about that " the doctor is going to have a houseful, and 

 several girls ! " I have, therefore, been in a horrible fever of 

 anticipation, which this evening resolved itself into cer- 

 tainty. On returning from the office I saw three women 

 and a lad seated on my doorstep, and on entering found 

 that five women and this lad were already installed, and 

 they told me that more were coming. Three of the ladies 

 were the sisters of Aleixo's wife, of whom I have told you as 

 entertaining us at Casa Grande with music and singing ; 



M 



