PRIESTS OF LIMA. 



189 



men, the females indulging in it to almost an 

 equal extent ; no doubt to a certain degree it 

 may be useful^ but carried to the excess it is, I 

 cannot but imagine it must be very prejudicial. 

 The average temperature of the thermometer, 

 during the whole of my stay, was 74P in the 

 shade at two P. M. 



The priests in Lima are disgusting. Many 

 have I seen absolutely drunk in the streets ; 

 and I only wish this was the worst thing I had to 

 say of them. In their processions T have wit- 

 nessed scenes shocking to human nature. In 

 carrying the Virgin Mary through the streets, 

 twelve females, supposed to be virgins, are se- 

 lected to carry frankincense before her. These 

 women are now generally female slaves of the 

 very worst and most abandoned description.^ 

 These women, as they proceed before the Virgin, 

 are screaming and hallooing with all their might, 



* Formerly it was considered an honour for the daughters 

 of the first families in the place to carry the frankincense be- 

 fore the Virgin. 



