LIFE IN ENTRE RIOS, MINAS GERAES. 157 



the first reformations in the Roman Church should be to 

 have the services in the vulgar tongue, or at least the 

 portions of Scripture. 



There are to be five processions through the town this 

 week. Tuesday, " Nosso Senhor do Deposito " (the Way 

 of the Cross) ; Wednesday, " O Encontro " (the Meeting) ; 

 Thursday, " Nossa Senhora dos Dores " (Our Lady of 

 Sorrows) ; Good Friday, " O Enterro " (the Burial) ; Saturday, 

 " O Triumpho " (the Triumph). 



April 8. — This evening was the first procession, which 

 started at seven. It was " The Way of the Cross." The 

 church bells began ringing at five, and continued at inter- 

 vals till all was over. The service began by choruses and 

 some music played by the band in the chapel at the south 

 end of the town, the priest in a purple cope meanwhile 

 swinging a censer with incense, from which arose clouds of 

 smoke, in front of a life-sized figure of our Lord — kneeling 

 under the weight of His cross — clothed in a black robe, 

 which reached from head to foot, and was fastened round 

 the waist by a white cord. The procession was headed by 

 a crucifer on whose cross were fixed the implements of the 

 Passion ; he was followed by a great number of men walk- 

 ing in two rows in Indian file, each carrying a lighted 

 candle. In the midst of this procession was the figure of 

 Christ — now veiled in purple, so that only part of the cross 

 could be seen — borne by four men, preceded by a thurifer 

 swinging the censer ; and then came Padre Antonio in a 

 purple cope, with two other priests in cassock, surplice, and 

 biretta. Arrived at the church, all candles were extin- 

 guished, a gauze veil that hung in front of the chancel was 

 torn down, and the Figure was placed on a stand before 

 the altar ; the chorus, etc., was repeated as at the chapel, 

 and at the conclusion of the service most of the congrega- 



