Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- MAP of the RIVER AMAZON
- CHAPTER I PARA′
- CHAPTER II PARA′
- CHAPTER III THE TOCANTINS
- CHAPTER IV MEXIANA AND MARAJO′
- CHAPTER V THE GUAMA′ AND CAPIM RIVERS
- CHAPTER VI SANTAREM AND MONTEALEGRE
- CHAPTER VII BARRA DO RIO NEGRO AND THE SOLIMÕES
- CHAPTER VIII THE UPPER RIO NEGRO
- CHAPTER IX JAVITA
- CHAPTER X FIRST ASCENT OF THE RIVER UAUPÉS
- CHAPTER XI ON THE RIO NEGRO
- CHAPTER XII THE CATARACTS OF THE UAUPÉS
- CHAPTER XIII SÃO JERONYMO TO THE DOWNS
- CHAPTER XIV THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE AMAZON VALLEY
- CHAPTER XV VEGETATION OF THE AMAZON VALLEY
- CHAPTER XVI OBSERVATIONS ON THE ZOOLOGY OF THE AMAZON DISTRICT
- CHAPTER XVII ON THE ABORIGINES OF THE AMAZON
- APPENDIX: VOCABULARIES OF AMAZONIAN LANGUAGES
CHAPTER II - PARA′
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2011
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- MAP of the RIVER AMAZON
- CHAPTER I PARA′
- CHAPTER II PARA′
- CHAPTER III THE TOCANTINS
- CHAPTER IV MEXIANA AND MARAJO′
- CHAPTER V THE GUAMA′ AND CAPIM RIVERS
- CHAPTER VI SANTAREM AND MONTEALEGRE
- CHAPTER VII BARRA DO RIO NEGRO AND THE SOLIMÕES
- CHAPTER VIII THE UPPER RIO NEGRO
- CHAPTER IX JAVITA
- CHAPTER X FIRST ASCENT OF THE RIVER UAUPÉS
- CHAPTER XI ON THE RIO NEGRO
- CHAPTER XII THE CATARACTS OF THE UAUPÉS
- CHAPTER XIII SÃO JERONYMO TO THE DOWNS
- CHAPTER XIV THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE AMAZON VALLEY
- CHAPTER XV VEGETATION OF THE AMAZON VALLEY
- CHAPTER XVI OBSERVATIONS ON THE ZOOLOGY OF THE AMAZON DISTRICT
- CHAPTER XVII ON THE ABORIGINES OF THE AMAZON
- APPENDIX: VOCABULARIES OF AMAZONIAN LANGUAGES
Summary
About a fortnight after our arrival at Pará there were several holidays, or “festas,” as they are called. Those of the “Espirito Santo” and the “Trinidade” lasted each nine days. The former was held at the cathedral, the latter at one of the smaller churches in the suburbs. The general character of these festas is the same, some being more celebrated and more attractive than others. They consist of fireworks every night before the church; Negro girls selling “doces,” or sweetmeats, cakes, and fruit; processions of saints and crucifixes; the church open, with regular services; kissing of images and relics; and a miscellaneous crowd of Negroes and Indians, all dressed in white, thoroughly enjoying the fun, and the women in all the glory of their massive gold chains and earrings. Besides these, a number of the higher classes and foreign residents grace the scene with their presence; showy processions are got up at the commencement and termination, and on the last evening a grand display of fireworks takes place, which is generally provided by some person who is chosen or volunteers to be “Juiz da festa,” or governor of the feast,—a rather expensive honour among people who, not content with an unlimited supply of rockets at night, amuse themselves by firing off great quantities during the day for the sake of the whiz and the bang that accompany them.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1853