THE CHAPEL. 
55 
they had vespers regularly, at which they carried 
torches. The Padre begged very hard for candles for 
the service of the altar. The church is about one hun- 
dred feet long. In a sort of Lady Ohapel, or sacristy, 
at the end, behind the high altar, the priest keeps his 
books and vestments, which are neither voluminous nor 
costly. In addition to the high altar, on which were some 
decayed wooden candlesticks, formerly gilded, and a 
rude figure of the Virgin, there is a small altar on each 
side. The edifice is built of wood and shingle, with 
the natural earth for a pavement, and differs but little, 
except in size, from the dwelling-houses. A building 
of more pretension formerly stood in its vicinity, 
which was built by white men for the residence of 
the priests. The only vestiges now remaining are 
two squared stone door-posts, which are still erect, 
and would lead to the supposition that they formed 
the adit to a respectable dwelling, of which, indeed, 
the foundations may be traced. Our informant, the 
present primate, took a mournful pleasure in describing 
the former splendour and extent of the high priest’s 
cook-house, hen-house, and piggery. The period of 
this prosperity was, however, so remote that an old 
man told us it was before his father’s time. Tradition 
said that a white priest, with a long white beard, had 
stayed with tlie islanders about four moons. He then 
went to Lisbon, and after a long interval another came, 
Avho, like his predecessor, remained but four moons. 
Since then the poor people have been constantly look- 
