190 DESCRIPTION OF A RELIGIOUS 



at the same time throwing up the incense to her. 

 The priests are singing psalms, and I have seen 

 them in many of these processions absolutely 

 drunk while singing their psalms ; and between 

 every verse laughing and talking, and even with 

 their arms round the waists of these females. 

 On the arrival of the Virgin at the church, the 

 scene becomes more like a riot than a religious 

 procession. Being once in a church when a pro- 

 cession entered, I could not imagine what in the 

 world was the matter ; such screaming, hallooing, 

 hooting, and roaring, as I never heard in my 

 life, was set up immediately the Virgin made her 

 appearance. The boys outside were huzzaing, 

 and throwing fire-works within, which occasioned 

 a scene of tumult impossible to be described. 

 When this uproar had subsided a little, a beau- 

 tiful deep-toned organ vibrated through the many 

 aisles of the magnificent Santo Domingo, and the 

 finest sacred music I ever heard was chaunted 

 by the choir of singers ; between each ca- 

 dence had a pin dropped, it might have been 



