SOUTH AMERICA. 



147 



made for use or exportation. To the south, the vine 

 flourishes much better than in this province. 



The inhabitants are represented as being much de- 

 voted to the ceremonies of their religion. The inqui- 

 sition was never established here, very fortunately for 

 the Jews, who are numerous, and whose outward con- 

 formity has never been strictly scrutinized. The kings 

 of Portugal obtained from the pope, nearly the same 

 grant of ecclesiastical supremacy over their American 

 possessions, as the king of Spain over theirs. There 

 is a primate at St. Salvador, to whom all the churches 

 of Brazil acknowledge obedience. The chief busi- 

 ness of the colonists of a general interest, consists in 

 the public ceremonies of their religion, such as proces- 

 sions in the streets, and masses. Devotion has become 

 rather a matter of amusement, than a serious duty. At 

 every hour of the day, rockets are let off, a singular 

 accompaniment to religious exercises.* The clergy 

 are said to be licentious, and even the nuns have been 

 spoken of, as not possessing the sanctity enjoined by 

 their vows. An occurrence took place some time ago, 

 which scandalized the faithful, perhaps, much more 

 than acts of a more reproachful kind. Two British 

 officers, one a lieutenant, and the other a surgeon, of 

 a ship of war, prevailed on two of the nuns to elope 

 with them; the ladies fell upon the expedient of let- 

 ting themselves down from the second story window 

 of the convent, by means of their bed clothes. The 

 enamorada of the lieutenant came safely to his arms, 



* "The religious system which held its empire with such happy 

 effects so long, has now some resemblance to a machine, of which 

 the spring, by its own internal working, has slackene(J at length, 

 and wearing out." — Macartney's Embassy, 



