NARRATIVE OF MEROLLA. 
125 
these superstitions insufficient, had recourse to an 
expedient which we cannot admire altogether so 
much as he himself appears to do. Having an 
image in relievo of the Blessed Virgin, he procur- 
ed a dagger and struck it into her breast, then 
besmeared the body with blood, making it appear' 
to have flowed from the wound. The missionary 
then began a long sermon against all their super- 
stitions, dwelling particularly on the injury which 
they did to the Holy Mother ; at the end of 
which he drew aside a curtain, and exhibited to 
them the deplorable condition to which they had 
reduced her. At this spectacle the hearts of the 
congregation were melted, and they burst into the 
most doleful cries and lamentations. Merolla was 
particularly edified by the conduct of one man, 
who, having a wife and daughter whom he knew 
to be engaged in magical practices, ran home and 
beat them without intermission, till they agreed 
to come and make confession before the priest. 
One custom, which seems peculiar to this coun- 
try, was the mode in which marriage was contract- 
ed. Before forming any permanent engagement, 
the two parties lived for some time with each 
other, in order to make trial how far their tem- 
pers and inclinations agreed ; during which inter- 
val, either party might, without the smallest re- 
proach, dissolve the connexion. The abolition of 
this system of trial, proved the hardest task which 
