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PANAMA- 



of surpliced brethren, who parade the streets iri 

 a long and noisy procession, bearing on their 

 heads a gorgeous image of the virgin, under a 

 canopy. At intervals they stop and raise a 

 dismal dirge, with voices that are only remark- 

 able for their harshness, and their skill in dis- 

 solving all the charms of sleep. This continues 

 for several hours. When the procession halts, a 

 collection of alms is exacted from the pious, 

 which is spent in adorning the virgin with new 

 dresses, if not pocketed by her professed vota- 

 ries. Mummeries disgraceful to Christianity 

 occur in these countries so frequently, that they 

 appear to occupy the greater part of every 

 body's time and attention. Last night, Judas 

 Iscariot went off delightfully in crackers, after 

 having been first hanged in the principal street, 

 surrounded by a crowd of noisy negroes, and 

 screaming children, who rejoiced exceedingly 



