Leaves from a 3fadeira Garden 



the barren and unmanured parts of this most 

 pleasant and fruitfull spot ; where neither the 

 extreme colde of winter, nor the violent heat 

 of summer pinches or scorches the inhabitants." 

 He visited among others the convent of Santa 

 Clara, and was surprised at the "freedome 

 these women use," a fact noted by other 

 travellers. He " understood but little of their 

 language, but made a shift to barter some 

 ribbands for sweetmeats." This convent, with 

 all other convents and monasteries, was sup- 

 pressed in 1834. The property of these 

 conventual establishments passed to the 

 Government ; much of it was sold. But the 

 convent of Santa Clara still stands in all its 

 charm and beauty, and a number of sisters, 

 who have taken voluntary vows not recognized 

 by the State, are permitted to inhabit it. 



I refer elsewhere so the superstitious pro- 

 ceedings designed to bring rain in time of 

 drought. Such are noticed by Mr. Jeaffreson. 

 " Rains are sometimes much wanted by the 

 islanders, for which theire idols or images of 

 their saints suffer most severely, by several! 

 sorts of chastisements, and are brought into 

 the cittie, and carried otherwhiles in prosession. 



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