— 
=~ hae 
1801.] View of Religion, Manners, ec. in the Mand of Corfu. 
march. It is befides frequently inter- 
rupted by the approach of fick perfons 
whom their friends carry under the fhrine 
in full confidence of an infallible cure. Ie 
ufually happens that feveral of thofe fick 
perfons fall into frightful convulfions, and 
caufe great confufion: but fuch of the 
popas as are in the fecret dextroufly ayail 
themfelves of the circumitance to levy 
contributions on the credulity of the de- 
votees. During the whole time that the 
body of the faint continues to be expoled | 
to public veneration, the church is crowd- 
ed with fick perfons,who lie there ftretched 
on their beds, patiently awaiting a cure, 
for the promife of which they are obliged to 
pay. 
So long as the feftival lafts, the papas 
are bufily employed in gratifying the pub- 
lic devotion ; one devotee earneftly praying 
them to read him a portion of the gofpel, 
another equally defirous to obtain a wax- 
candle, a handkerchief, a ribbon, or any 
other objeét which had touched-the faint’s 
body. Allthefe favors are paid for. 
The reliques of Saint Spiridion are ex- 
pofed with the mott religious confidence in 
every feafon of public calamity.” His 
church has been enriched by private do- 
nations; and the devotion of the iflanders 
is a produétive fource of wealth to him: 
the mechanic, the mariner, fancy that they 
infure the fuccefs of their undertakings by 
devoting a part of the profit to Saint Spi- 
ridion. Not a barque fails from their port, 
in the profits of whofe voyage the faint is 
not interefted: the Greeks even of the 
Morea and the Archipelago are equally 
zealous in paying tribute to him. 
~The night between Holy Thurfday and 
Good Friday is remarkable for the num- 
ber of proceffions which perambulate the’ 
city. Every church, every chapel, has its 
own, in which is triumphantly carried a 
fepulcre. previoufly prepared with the 
greateft poffible munificence; for in this 
point there is a certain emulation between 
the different churches. Each fepulcre is 
farrounded by a great number of lighted 
tapers, each papa holding one of very large 
fige in his hand, and each perfon who ac- 
Companies the proceffion being alfo pro- 
vided with one. All thefe different pro- 
ceffions, after having perambulated the 
ftreets, unite on the efplanade, where the 
light of their numerous tapers equals the 
fplendor of day. All the churches are 
open: all the ftreets and public fquares 
are crowded with people running from 
church to church, from proceflion to 
proceffion. The women, who on other 
Monruiy Mac. No. 76, : 
25 
occafions, do not appear at church ex- 
cept in a clofe-railed gallery, now en- 
joy full liberty. This night is the time 
when they contra&t new acquaintances or 
renew their old.——On every ‘fide people are 
feen going in parties to enjoy the {pectacle 
of the proceffions, and to vifit the churches: 
devotion ferves as a cloké to curiofity, or 
to the accomplifhment of preconcerted 
plans. Thefe pious rambles are ufually 
{ucceeded by feafts, which do not always 
terminate peaceably. The events of the 
night furnifh an ample fund of converfa- 
tion for the enfuing day. 
The night of Holy Thurfday is further 
remarkable for a fuperftition of a fingular . 
kind. Some people caufe a fhirt to be 
made for them onthat night. The work 
mutt be performed by an odd number of 
maidens. all named Mary ; and the fhirt, 
begun at midnight, muft be cut out, 
fewed, wafhed, and ironed before day : all 
which conditions being punttually cb- 
ferved, it is believed to poffefs the inefti- 
mable virtue of rendering the wearer in- 
vulnerable. Such fhirts are very {carce. 
During the firft days of April, a fort of 
banner is carried about the ftreets, pré- 
fenting the figure of Lazarus in the moment 
of refarreétion, and loaded with the moft 
ridiculous ornaments, fuch as necklaces of . 
mack pearls, handkerchiefs, ribbons of va- 
rious colors, {mall looking~glaffes, little 
pistures in frames, even children’s toys 
and.dolls. The drefs of the man who 
carries this extraordinary banner is not 
lefs whimfical: Over his mafculine attire 
he wears a red petticoat faftened with knots 
ofribbon. He frequently interrupts his 
march to perform a very lively dance, 
during which he waves his banner, and 
fings in valgar Greek the refurrection of 
Lazarus. “A wretched haut-bois of very 
fhrill note, exaétly the fame as is ufed by 
the itinerant bear-dancers, together with a 
large drum, ferve as accompaniments to his 
fong, of which the burden ts repeated by 
feveral fpeétators, who fometimes alfo 
join in the dance. ‘This banner and its 
efcort do not fail to ftop before the doors 
of men in office or perfons diftinguifhed 
by fuperior opulence: The dance and the 
fong are repaid by a pecuniary donation : 
one of the affiftants carefully picks up the 
pieces of money thrown from the windows, 
and puts them into a box, but not till he 
has fhewn them to the ftandard-bearer and 
his muficians, who are to fhare the fum 
colleéted. On paying a fmall fum, people 
are permitted to kifs the banner, of 
which, after it has been thus carried 
E through 
