NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



351 



Divine Service at a Chapel belonging to a private house, the owner of 

 w^hich is obliged to keep it open to the public, especially at this season, 

 w^hen the free will offerings are made. The altar stood at the end of a 

 long varanda, and around it sate a great number of females in ranks on 

 the floor, with their legs crossed under them. The men not quite so 

 compactly arranged, stood behind them, and others sate on benches 

 down the sides of the varanda. At the end, opposite to the altar, were 

 two tables, with the proper officers to receive and register the offerings. 

 Some of these met with great respect and gratitude, others were received 

 with a marked coldness, which seemed intended to be admonitory. As 

 each offering was registered, it was delivered for sale to a sort of 

 auctioneer, who marched with it up and down the place, vociferating the 

 last bidden sum, and exhibiting all the wit he was master of, to induce 

 a higher offer. • . 



The British strangers, four in number, had been introduced into a 

 large apartment of the house, which commanded a view of all that passed 

 in this motley scene. Thovigh they conversed gaily with the family and 

 other visitors, it was in an under tone, out of respect to the religious 

 ceremony which was going on ; yet the joke, the smile, and giggling 

 laughter, which were seen and heard all around them, plainly showed 

 that nothing was farther from the hearts of the assembly, than thoughts 

 of serious and devout worship. Indeed, the Ecclesiastics themselves, 

 are in general so guilty of like indecorum, in their holy places and 

 employments, as to make it manifest that they consider themselves only 

 as actors, having each his part assigned in the drama of the day. 

 They seem to expect on common occasions, no other attention from a 

 congregation than a care to bend the knee, bow the head, cross them- 

 selves, and smite their bosoms, at proper points of the service, and to 

 make their responses in unison. 



The Sacred Sale passed heavily ; few appeared willing to pay more 

 for a cock, consecrated by its having been devoted to the service of 

 Heaven, than for one equally fine from an unholy brood. To infuse a 

 little life into the scene, the heretics after being assured that they might 



