sion. The usual period of its continuance is about two weeks, during which time the stores in the city are closed, and business almost entirely suspended. All take part in the festivities, both the old and the young, the rich and the poor; and for weeks previous, preparations are being made, and nothing is talked of but the delights and pleasures of the approaching season. The wealthy contribute large sums in cleaning and beautifying the grounds, and in erecting temporary habitations, for themselves and families to occupy during the period of the feast.

The poor expend whatever they may have amassed by months of untiring labour, in purchasing gala dresses, and ornaments for the occasion. An intense excitement prevails among all classes, such as those only who have been there can possibly realize.

The origin of the feast was given me by a venerable old man in nearly the following words :

Many years ago, as a certain horseman was riding on the flowery plains of Portugal, he perceived a nimble deer, gracefully gliding over the grassy meadow, a long way off before him. In a moment, he "dashed the rowels in his steed," and was bounding over the plain in eager pursuit of his intended victim. Like an arrow from a bow, the ill-fated deer continued his rapid flight, but, notwithstanding all his efforts, every moment brought his pursuer nearer. The eyes of the horseman were so intensely fixed upon the animal that he was wholly regardless of all else than the possession of his prey, and this single object filled and engrossed all his faculties. Danger was near, but being unconscious of it, he pressed recklessly on ; at last the deer arrived at the brink of an unseen precipice, and plunged headlong into the abyss beneath. The horseman, who was but a short distance behind, followed with lightning-like rapidity onwardwhen within a few feet of the verge, the rider was suddenly aroused to a sense of the awfulness of his situation. It was a critical and a solemn moment!-all human aid was vain! This the rider knew, but still his courage did not forsake him, even in the presence of the impending catastrophe; raising his arms imploringly towards heaven, he inwardly murmured, "Santa Maria, salve me," (holy Mary, save me.) The prayer was heard!-by her supernatural influence, the impetus of the fiery charger was checked-and his rider was saved! From this wonderful interposition on the part of the Sainted Virgin, the festival of Nazare is said to have derived its origin, and however absurd the story may appear to the reader, yet it is positively believed by many of the simple-minded natives of Para.

The historical account of the origin of the festival, as given by a celebrated Portuguese author is far more satisfactory and credible than the foregoing. According to it, there lived many years ago, in the vicinity of Para, a certain mulatto, by the name of Placido, who was distinguished for his extensive piety and devotion. This solitary individual had in his possession a small and rudely carved image of the Virgin Mary, which he was accustomed to worship both morning and evening. This he kept in his little leaf-covered habitation, and guarded it with the greatest assiduity and care. On the death of Placido, the sacred image fell into the hands of an exceedingly zealous person called Antonio Angostinho, who, by his extensive influence, induced a body of religious enthusiasts to build a kind of hermitage for its accommodation. This

hermitage was situated within a short distance from the city, and being easily accessible, it soon became a place of popular resort by many of the citizens, who frequently repaired thither for holy purposes. Finally, on the 3rd of July, 1793, it was solemnly decreed by the captain-general of the province, that a regular festival, in honour of the Virgin Mary should be held near this place every year. Thus was the Festa de Nazare established and so well did it accord with the spirit and genius of the people that it has ever since been most scrupulously observed.

The festivities on this occasion are commenced by a brilliant and extended procession, which forms in the city, and moves out late in the afternoon, towards the Largo de Nazare. The procession is led by a number of citizens on horseback, after whom an immense vehicle, styled the "car of triumph" is drawn along by a pair of oxen, handsomely decorated with ribbons and flowers. Within the car are several youths, who afford entertainment to the vast multitude by occasional discharges of rockets or other fireworks.

A fine band of music next follows, preceding a large body of military. Then comes the president of the province, mounted on a richly caparisoned horse. After him succeeds a chaise, bearing in it a single priest, together with the sacred image of the virgin. The procession is closed like all others in Brazil, by a motley crowd of the lower classes-men, with huge trays of fruit and sweetmeats on their heads-Indian damsels, with chains of massive gold suspended round their necks, and children of every complexion, revelling in all the freedom of absolute nakedness.

The procession having arrived at the Largo, the image of Nosra Senhora is deposited in the little church fronting the Roscenia de Nazare. A holy ordinance is then performed, and a hymn sung; and, every day throughout the festival, these religious ceremonies are repeated in the chapel, both at sun-rise and sun-set. The church being exceedingly small, but few persons are able to obtain an entrance, yet hundreds crowd together before the porch, and zealously engage in the chants to the blessed Virgin. The services being concluded, the populace are allowed to enter the church, and each, in their turn, to kiss the consecrated ribbons by which it is profusely ornamented.

In the evening an infinite variety of amusements are resorted to. Fancy yourself, dear reader, for a moment transported to the enchanting province of which we write. It is a lovely moonlight evening, such as is only witnessed in the tropics, and you are strolling out of the city with a friend, to observe the festivities of Nazare!

How beautiful the dense thicket of shrubbery through which you are wending your way-how prettily those tall palms droop their feather-like branches and quiver in the fragrant breeze-how merrily the insects hum and fit about in the pure atmosphere! but listen an instant to a sound surpassingly rich and melodious, that now breaks upon your ear, like a voice from the "spirit land,”—ay, it is the plaintive note of a "southern nightingale," charming his mate with a love-song of bewitching sweetness. Attentively you hearken to the delightful strain, and a soft melancholy steals over your mind. But at length you arrive at the monument of Nazare! What a gorgeous spectacle now meets your eye, and what a rapid transition in the state of your feelings instantly takes place.

Before you is an immense assemblage, gaily dancing on the green -a splendid band is enlivening the vast concourse with its stimulating music, and all are busily engaged in every variety of human enjoyment.

Take a peep into the low thatched sheds which line the Largo on either side, and you will see every species of dissipation. In one you will perceive a number of persons occupying themselves with cards, or a party playing billiards. These are gamblers, as is manifest from the piles of dollars exposed on the tables. In another, you may perchance see a soldier or citizen, swinging in a beautifully woven hammock, and discoursing love to a voluptuous looking Indian maid, with dark dreamy eyes, and long luxuriant hair, while her naturally developed waist is encircled by his wanton arm. Shocking as these spectacles may appear to the delicate reader, yet they cannot be more so, than they were in reality to the writer -and candour and truth compel him to describe them, in order to give an adequate idea of the true character of the people among whom it was his fortune to be thrown.

But we will not dwell upon the incidents of this Festa. Suffice it to say, that for two weeks, nothing is known but dissipation, at the expiration of which time it is brought to its termination.

Although this extraordinary festival usually passes by without any serious accidents or public disturbances, yet it is much to be questioned whether it exerts anything but a decidedly immoral and debasing tendency upon the morals of the people.

SIR MAGNUS AND THE SEA-WITCH.

"And a new mill-house I will give to thee,

With mill-stones working for ever, They turn on the ground as light and free As those in the running river.

"Magnus, young Magnus," &c. "If thou wert a Christian maiden mild, I'd pledge thee my troth by the fountain;

But thou art a sea-witch wicked and wild,

And hence to thy wave-washed mountain."

"Magnus, young Magnus," &c. Sir Magnus he wheel'd his steed around, But the Mermaid rose up and stay'd him;

Her hand in the bridle and bit she wound,

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And to tarry awhile she pray'd him. Magnus, young Magnus," &c. And had not high Heaven will'd it so. That the cock at that moment chanted, With the Mermaid wild the knight should go,

And her heart's desire were granted. "Magnus, young Magnus," &c. E. K.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES AT ROME.

BY MRS. PERCY SINNETT.

REFORMED Rome is just as rich in holidays as the Rome of the Middle Ages,-nay richer, for the old list is increased by the addition of the political and national guard festivals; and, on all these days, galleries, museums, and shops are closed, and no one will "do any manner of work." Of course I do not mean that the Romans lay themselves under any restraints like those of a Puritanical Sabbath; their reason for refraining from work is simply to enjoy play. In what manner this inordinate holiday-making will be found to agree with the requisitions of a reformed constitution, and an improved administration of public affairs, I cannot imagine, but fortunately it's no business of mine.

After the Christmas-eve came three Christmas-days, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday; Friday, the New-year's-eve, was also observed with all the honours,-New-year's-day is a holiday all the world over. The next day was Sunday, and nobody of course could object to being idle then; and to-day, on which I am writing, is no less a day than the day of the Tre Re Magi, or Twelfth-day, as it is prosaically called in England.

Here, then, are six whole, and three half holidays, out of fourteen days, in which the great necessities of life are lost sight of, and no doors but those of restaurants, cafés, or perhaps apothecaries, remain open.

We northern travellers are, however, well pleased to find that Rome is Rome still, and still wears, in spite of reform, the robes of her ancient magnificence, with nothing retrenched, only here and there a little addition made. The guardia civica, with its glittering helmets, dazzling uniforms, and broad Roman swords, does but increase the splendour of the ecclesiastical processions, and harmonizes well with them; these in the Christmas of 1847 answered precisely to the description written of them in 1447, and many times since; and for this reason you need not fear my inflicting upon you a description of them now. The thousands of wax-lights and the decorated crib, reminded me of what I had seen in Germany; but here grown people were kneeling in apparent devotion round these wax and wooden dolls, which looked peculiarly mean and paltry in Rome, where art ennobles and reconciles us to so much that would be otherwise painful. They who were kneeling were, it is true, mostly peasants, but why should they not rather kneel to the exquisite Madonnas and holy children which the old masters have called into life, than to those newly varnished things dressed up for the occasion. know not, but it seems the old faith clings to them in preference.

I

On the New-year's-day, a beneficent tramontana had driven away the rain clouds, piled up by a sirocco of long continuance, and to enjoy my holiday, I ascended the tower of the capitol, and gazed down on that living picture of the past, the present, and the future, that there lay spread out before me. Old and new Rome was at my feet, bathed in golden sunshine; and while in my native north all nature lay wrapped in snow, here the fresh green was every where bursting forth among the palaces and temples, and all over the

vegetable gardens and corn-fields in the distance. The Alban and Sabine hills seemed floating in a violet-coloured vapour, and only the highest summits of the Appenines were still enwreathed with wintry clouds. On this, the first day of January, the winter seemed already past; a few storms, and it is all over; and in another week the whole country will be bursting into bud and blossom, and the violets be springing up amongst the ruins. As for the daisies, ox-eyes, &c., they have been emulating the cypresses and olives, and have been blowing all the winter through.

Just as brief has been the stormy period of the political world. The clouds that for a while looked threatening, have been blown away, and all is again confidence and peace. The Pope and his subjects are of one heart and one mind; a step has been made on the path of progress; and during the Christmas holidays even Naples and the Tedeschi are forgotten, and pleasure is the order of the day.

Many of my readers, perhaps, have witnessed the celebrated Christmas markets of Germany, which, from having been originally merely an accessory,-a means to the important end of the purchase of playthings and presents,-have come gradually to be themselves a principal feature in the festivities. In Rome there is a grand market held for a similar purpose, but twelve days later than Christmas-eve, namely, on the eve of the day of the Tre Re Magi. This is the Befana market, to which every body goes; for even those who don't intend to buy, have to look at those who do. By the by, it seems to me that there is more of a symbolical meaning in the time chosen for the Roman celebration, for there does not seem to be any connection between the event of Christmas-day and the making of presents, whilst the day on which Kings of the East brought their gifts might naturally suggest such a custom.

This incident seems especially to have seized on the imaginations of our forefathers, for throughout the whole course of the middle ages, we find it frequently referred to, and illuminated with all the most glowing colours of fancy, and all the powers of art. I recollect an old Florentine picture on this subject,-I believe in the Academie delle Belle Arti, where the artist, not content with lavishing upon the three kings all the most gorgeous colours of his palette, has called in the aid of the goldsmith and jeweller, and bestowed on them crowns, swords, spurs, and jewel-caskets of solid gold, and gems.

What the Befana has to do with the Three Kings of the East, is more than I can tell, or whether she is of ancient classic, or Lombardo-Gothic origin, but she is, I think, certainly of the same family as the German Knecht Rupert, and comes down the chimney in his fashion, laden with presents for good children, in the night between the firth and sixth of January; and I am told that in the excited state of the imagination of "Young Rome," there is not wanting testimony to the fact of her having been not only heard in the chimney, but actually seen stepping cautiously out with her arms full of presents -but then of course witness had to close his, or her eyes, for those who watch, it is known, get nothing. The morning of Twelfth-day, when they get their presents, is the festival of the children; the eening before that of the present-makers, the grown people.

The fair is held in the little market-place of St. Eustace, a space so small that the tender care of the Prussian police would not allow more than a hundred people to enter at a time lest they should be