26 



GOOD FRIDAV. 



was prodigious ; the object apparently aimed at 

 was the production of trie greatest quantity of 

 light, as in some instances mirrors were fixed 

 behind the tapers. The middle of the body of 

 these churches is completely open ; there are no 

 pews, no distinction of places ; the principal 

 chapel is invariably at the opposite end from the 

 chief entrance, recedes from the church, and is 

 narrower ; this part is appropriated to the offi- 

 ciating priests, and is railed in from the body of 

 the church. The females, as they enter, whether 

 white or of colour, place themselves as near to 

 the rails as they can, squatting down upon the 

 floor of the large open space in the centre. 

 The men stand along either side of the body of 

 the church, a narrow slip being in most instances 

 railed off lengthways ; or they remain near to the 

 entrance, behind the women ; but every female, 

 of whatever rank or colour, is first accom- 

 modated. 



On the following day, Good Friday, the de- 

 corations of the churches, the dress of the wo- 

 men, and even the manner of both sexes* was 

 changed ; all was dismal. In the morning I 

 went with the same gentlemen to the church of 

 the Sacramento, to witness a representation of 

 our Saviour's descent from the Cross. We en- 

 tered the church by a side door ; it was much 

 crowded, and the difficulty of getting in was 

 considerable. An enormous curtain hung from 



