14 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
or torches; and on the occasion of a ceremony^ connected^ 
as we were informed^ with the passage of her soul from 
purgatory to the regions of glory, the royal chapel was 
most splendidly illuminated. Desiring to see, for myself, 
their kind of worship, and the appearance of the wor¬ 
shippers, I frequently went to the royal chapel, on our 
first arrival. The rich gilding and numerous paintings, 
the images, massy silver candlesticks, and other costly 
ornaments of the building; the novel habits and sonor¬ 
ous voices of the priests; and, above all, the music 
mixed with many of their rites, were certainly adapted 
to produce a powerful impression upon the feelings of 
the majority of those who resorted thither; the greater 
part of whom had perhaps never seen a Bible ! But 
notwithstanding there was so much that was imposing 
in its accompaniments, their worship often appeared a 
mere heartless attendance on customary ceremonies. 
Images of the Virgin Mary appeared at the corners of 
some of the principal streets, in little glass-cases, and 
in the evening a small lamp was placed before them. 
In front of these, the poor ignorant Catholic, kneel¬ 
ing in the streets, and offering his prayers to the 
image, together with other ceremonies performed at 
this season of the year, presented a most lamentable 
spectacle. Scenes, the most ludicrous imaginable, some¬ 
times occurred. I was surprised one morning, about 
the time of Good Friday, to behold what I thought was 
a man suspended from a tree, on the opposite side of 
the road; observing my attention attracted, the family 
informed me that it was the day on which the Catho¬ 
lics were accustomed to hang Judas. I was surprised 
to see this representation of the traitor, exhibited in 
a fashionable coat, waistcoat, and pantaloons, with a 
