THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 257 



flowers were poured down upon the functionaries from the 

 balconies and windows in such profusion, as in the distance 

 to resemble a pink snow-storm. On arriving at the shrines a 

 bell was jangled vehemently, and the members of the procession 

 then all went down on their knees in the street, while the 

 old archbishop waved a censer about, and the corps of priests 

 chanted in a dolorous manner. This went on for a few 

 minutes, till a great cross, carried near the head of the proces- 

 sion, was elevated, when the bells in all the churches clanged, 

 as if seized with paroxysms of fury, and the people arose and 

 marched on to the next shrine, where the same ceremony 

 again took place. After a detour through the streets they 

 returned to the cathedral, where the host was replaced in its " 

 niche with great demonstrations of reverence, after which the 

 archbishop changed his robes, assuming a great crimson 

 mantle which trailed for yards behind him, supported by 

 a youth, who, to facilitate the operation, wound some folds 

 of it around his shoulders. 



We had very fine weather during the time of our stay at 

 Buenos Ayres, with the exception of a tremendous hail-shower 

 one evening, which, though it lasted for only a very short time, 

 flooded the streets ; and, the short time at our disposal being 

 at length expended, we took our places in the " Eio Uruguay " 

 again about five o'clock on the afternoon of the 28th. Soon 

 after we started there was a magnificent display of thunder 

 and lightning, and thereafter it began to blow hard, so that we 

 had a very rough passage down the river, being obliged to 

 lie-to for some time in the course of the night, owing to the 

 thickness of the fog, so that we did not reach Monte Video 

 till eight A.M. on the 29th. Next day it was blowing suffi- 

 ciently hard in the morning to make landing unpleasant ; but in 

 the afternoon a few of us went on shore for a stroll, and I 



