"Our Lady of the Dew" 85 



homage of the Brotherhoods. As each Replica reached the spot, 

 its bearers halted and knelt, while expert drivers even made their 

 ox-teams kneel down in submission before the " Queen of Heaven 

 and Earth." There was but a moment's delay, nor .did castanets 

 and song cease for an instant. Later in the evening came the 

 processions of the Rosario, when each of the visiting Brotherhoods 

 make a ceremonious call upon the Senior Brother — that is, the 

 Hermit of Rocio — after which each confraternity, with less 

 ceremony but more joviality, visited the camps of the others. 

 This last was accompanied by bands, massed choirs, and 

 Jireworks. Then the festival resolved itself, so far as we could 

 judge, into a purely secular affair — feasting, merry-making, 

 dancino^, till far on in the niorht. 



Rain had set in at dusk and was now falling last. Rocio is 

 but a tiny hamlet — say two score of humble cots — yet to-night 

 6000 people occupied it, the womenfolk sleeping inside their 

 canvas-tilted ox-waggons, the men lying promiscuously on the 

 o;round beneath. 



o 



Sunday is occupied with religious ceremonies, beginning with 

 High Mass. These we will not attempt to describe — nor could 

 we if we would. The Spanish friend who at our request jotted 

 down some notes on the Fiesta uses the following expressions : — 



The days of the Koci'o are days of expansion, merry-making, animation. 

 Never, throughout the festival, ceases the laughter of joyous voices, the 

 clang of the castanets, the melody of guitar and tambourine. Dances, 

 song, and music, with jovial intercourse and good fellowship, all unite to 

 preserve unflagging tlie rejoicing whicli is cultivated at that beautiful spot. 

 At this festival many traders assist with different installations, including 

 jewellers in the porch of the church, vendors of medallions, photographs, 

 coloured ribbons, and other articles dedicated to the patroness of a 

 festival whicli is well worthy a visit for its originality and bewitclmient. 



On the Monday morning, after joint attendance of all the 

 Brotherhoods at Mass, followed by a sermon, the image of the 

 Virgin is formally replaced upon the altar (the feet resting upon 

 the same hollow trunk in which the figure was first found), then 

 the processions are reformed and the long homeward journey to 

 their respective destinations begins. 



Although many thousands of people yearly attend this 

 festival, all entirely uncontrolled by any authority, yet quarrels 

 and disturbance are unknown. The mere cry of " viva la 



