158 TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. {January, 1851. 



at once. There are seven or eight distinct processes in the 

 Roman Catholic baptism, well calculated to attract the attention 

 of the Indians : there is water and holy oil, and spittle rubbed 

 on the eyes, and crosses on the eyes, nose, mouth, and body, 

 and kneeling and prayers in between, which all bear suffi- 

 cient resemblance to the complicated operations of their own 

 " page's" (conjurors), to make them think they have got 

 something very good, in return for the shilling they pay for 

 the ceremony. 



The next day there were a few weddings, the ceremony of 

 which is very like our own. After it was over, Frei Joze gave 

 the newly married people a very good and practical homily 

 on the duties of the married state, which might have done 

 some good, had the parties to whom it was addressed under- 

 stood it ; which, as it was in Portuguese, they did not. He at 

 all times strenuously exhorted the Indians to get married, and 

 thus save their souls, and fill his pocket. The only two 

 white men, besides myself, were, however, bad examples, for 

 they were not, nor would be married, though they both had 

 large families ; which the Padr got over by saying, " Never 

 mind what these white people do, they will all go to purgatory, 

 but don't you be such fools as to go too ! " at which Senhor 

 L. and the Commandante laughed heartily, and the poor 

 Indians looked much astonished. 



