iSo ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



in which is founded the confrary of the Mulattos : they go all covered with black 

 frocks, and have many paffages of the paflion fung very devoutly, with the beft mulic 

 of the place, and many lighted torches. The Wednefday the famous proceflion of the 

 confrary of the Nazarenos fets out, which is all of natural Spaniards, oif feveral arts and 

 profefTions, and is founded in the royal convent of Nueftra Sennora de la Mercede ; and 

 it is one of the richeft and moft adorned proceflions. This proceflion is divided into 

 three troops : the firft of which carries La Veronica to the cathedral, where it flays to 

 meet the fecond, in which comes the Redeemer with his crofs, fo heavy, that he is 

 forced to kneel often. 



When this fecond, which is the largeft, comes to the great place, that which (laid 

 at the cathedral goes to meet them; and at a certain diftance, in fight of a vaft multi- 

 tude of people, the Veronica comes, and kneeling down to the image of Chrift, which 

 is a very large one, feemingly wipes his face, and then fhews the people the reprefent- 

 ation of it remaining in the handkerchief j and then, as they begin to march, there 

 appears the third proceflion, in which comes St. John, fliewing the Virgin Mary that 

 dolorous fpeftacle : fo that by all thefe there is formed a mighty proceflion, with many 

 lighted torches, and all the brothers are clothed in their red frocks, marching with 

 great filence and devotion. There is another reprefentation of great piety, which is 

 performed in the convent of St. Francis, and in this convent ; which is the parting of 

 Chrift and his mother, which ufes to caufe great paflion and many tears, becaufe of the 

 naturalnefs with which it is adted. 



On the Thurfday there are very curious fepulchres erefted, and many alms given to 

 the poor ; and though in the foregoing proceflions, and on the Fridays in Lent, there 

 are to be feen fome people whipping themfelves, with divers forts of penances, which 

 every one performs according to his own devotion, yet the proceflions, which by excel- 

 lency are called the bloody proceflions, are performed this night. One of them fets 

 out from the chapel of the true crofs, which is in the convent and chapel of Nueftra 

 Sennora de la Mercede, and is only of the inhabitants and gentlemen, who go all 

 covered over with black frocks ; and he who carries the crofs is obliged (befides the 

 collation which he provides for the preacher, and the mufic, and which ufes to be very 

 magnificent) to provide alfo men to attend the proceflion, and relieve the whippers, 

 who often draw fo much blood, that they faint away ; and others take care to cut off 

 of the difciplines fome of the fpurs of them, for they ufe to have fo many on, that 

 they almoft kill themfelves, nay, I have feen fome of fo indifcreet a zeal, that they ufed 

 certain buttons with points fo fharp, that if they were let alone, it is a difpute whether 

 they would not die before the end of the proceflion. Before this go alfo two others, 

 both of them bloody proceflions ; one of the Indians, and it is that has moft whippers ; 

 the other comes from St. Domingo, and is of the Morenos : they both have mufic ; 

 and the communities of all the convents go to meet them when they come near thar 

 churches with torches in their hands. They fpend a great deal of time in their procef- 

 fion, and are accompanied by an infinite number of people. 



On the holy Friday there are two proceflions more that go out of St. Domingo and 

 St. Francifco, both of natural Spaniards. That of San6to Domingo is called the pro- 

 ceflion of pity, and has been begun but lately ; but it has made fuch progrefs, that it 

 equals the moft ancient : they carry all the marks of the paflion by fo many drefled up 

 like angels very richly, and each of them is attended by two brothers of the proceflion 

 with lights, and their coats of yellow. The other proceflion, which comes from St. 

 Francifco, is the antienteft, and has always been the beft : it is mightily commended 

 for the great filenc^gd devotion with which it is performed j for there is not a word 



fpoke 



