RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS 



59 



There was much difference as to the accessories of 

 these festivals between the interior towns and villages 

 and the capital ; but little or no work was done any- 

 where whilst they lasted, and they tended much to de- 

 moralize the people. It is soon perceived that religion is 

 rather the amusement of the Paracuses than their serious 

 exercise. The ideas of the majority evidently do not 

 reach beyond the belief that all the proceedings are, 

 in each case, in honour of the particular wooden image 

 enshrined at the church. The uneducated Portuguese 

 immigrants seemed to me to have very degrading notions 

 of religion. I have often travelled in the company of 

 these shining examples of European enlightenment. 

 They generally carry with them, wherever they go, a 

 small image of some favourite saint in their trunks, and 

 when a squall or any other danger arises, their first im- 

 pulse is to rush to the cabin, take out the image and clasp 

 it to their lips, whilst uttering a prayer for protection. 

 The negroes and mulattos are similar in this respect to 

 the low Portuguese, but I think they show a purer de- 

 votional feeling ; and in conversation I have always 

 found them to be more rational in religious views than the 

 lower orders of Portuguese. As to the Indians ; with 

 the exception of the more civilized families residing near 

 the large towns, they exhibit no religious sentiment at 

 all. They have their own patron saint, St. Thome, and 

 celebrate his anniversary in the orthodox way, for they 

 are fond of observing all the formalities ; but they think 

 the feasting to be of equal importance with the church 

 ceremonies. At some of the festivals, masquerading 

 forms a large part of the proceedings, and then the Indians 

 really shine. They get up capital imitations of wild 

 animals, dress themselves to represent the Caypor and 

 other fabulous creatures of the forest, and act their parts 

 throughout with great cleverness. When St. Thome's 

 festival takes place, every employer of Indians knows 

 that all his men will get drunk. The Indian, generally 

 too shy to ask directly for casha9a (rum), is then very 

 bold ; he asks for a frasco at once (two-and-a-half 

 bottles), and says, if interrogated, that he is going to 

 fuddle in honour of St. Thome. 



In the city of Para, the provincial government assists 

 to augment the splendour of the religious holidays. The 

 processions which traverse the principal streets consist. 



