102 
LETTERS FROM 
ribbon, and having a rude representation of 
the Virgin and Child printed on them, with 
a blue riband to hang them round the neck„ 
These amulets were offered for sale. In 
glass cases, hung against the walls of the 
church, were fragments of bones, said to 
be the relics of some holy saint; and in a 
larger case was a waxen bust of Christ, 
crowned with thorns. There was also a figure 
of the Virgin Mary, dressed rather too much 
in the modern style; and a large dagger 
stuck in her breast was intended, I suppose, 
to represent a literal fulfilment of the pro¬ 
phecy of good old Simeon, “ A sword shall 
pierce through thy own soul also.” In this 
church I observed some very picturesque, and 
really beautiful groupes of women and little 
children on their knees, repeating their prayers 
with an appearance of the deepest devotion 
and sincerity. On entering the church they all 
