HOLY THURSDAY. 



25 



and the conversation carried on almost in a 

 whisper. 



I lost no festivals, and amongst others, went 

 to that of St. Amaro, the healer of wounds, at 

 whose chapel are sold bits of ribbon, as charms, 

 which many individuals of the lower orders of 

 people tie round their naked ancles or their 

 wrists, and preserve until they wear out, and 

 drop off. 



About the commencement of Lent, the vil- 

 lages in the neighbourhood are almost entirely 

 deserted by the white people, who return to town 

 to see the processions customary at this season 

 in Catholic countries. The rains also usually 

 begin about the end of March. I did not leave 

 the P090 da Panella until the very last, but in 

 the end found the place dull, and followed the 

 rest. 



Pn Holy Thursday, accompanied by two of 

 my countrymen, I sallied forth at three o'clock, 

 to see the churches, which are, on this occasion, 

 lighted up, and highly ornamented. The whole 

 town was in motion ; the females, too, both high 

 and low, were this afternoon parading the streets 

 on foot, contrary to their usual custom ; many 

 of them were dressed in silks of different colours, 

 and covered with gold chains and other trinkets, 

 a general muster being made of all the finery 

 that could be collected. The blaze in some of 

 the churches, from great numbers of wax tapers, 



