i64 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



In the evening was the "Procissao do Enterro" (Procession of 

 the Burial). The general features were similar to those I 

 have before mentioned — men with candles, and crowds of 

 women and children in the rear. The cross with the instru- 

 ments of the Passion led the way; then came the sixty- 

 maidens ; next the thurifer; then, under a baldequin, a bier 

 with a veiled figure of the Christ upon it, which was borne 

 by eight men, in turns of four each, all in white, with white 

 hoods on, tied under the chin. The figure of the Virgin 

 followed, carried by eight ladies, alternately by fours, all 

 dressed in black, with long black veils. On each side of 

 the bier was a priest, and a third priest closed the proces- 

 sion, which was about half a mile long. It went throughout 

 the village ; and two ladies were dressed up to represent 

 St. Veronica and St. Mary Magdalene. At intervals St. 

 Veronica held up a cloth with a representation of our 

 Lord's head upon it, and every one fell on their knees while 

 s he sang a recitative. 



In the evening I had an interesting talk with the men, 

 especially with Aleixo's " cunhado " (brother-in-law). I 

 had previously given him a Gospel of St. John ; and some 

 time after he walked^-one Sunday — about two leagues to 

 my camp, and saying that I had told him I possessed 

 a copy of the whole New Testament, would be so glad to 

 have a look at it. Of course I lent it to him, and he took 

 it away, and, sitting on his heels outside my tent, had a long 

 read. To-night I gave him a Testament, with which he 

 was much pleased, and told him I had sent to England 

 to get it especially for him. He then and there sat down 

 and read the whole of St. Luke xxii., xxiii., aloud, which 

 took some time, as he was continually drawing the atten- 

 tion of his friends to certain passages which especially 

 interested him. We then had a long talk on those sub- 



