ing and selling in this way, were very
merry, joking and laughing with the blacks below, and did not seem at
all indisposed to do the same with my companion. In three of the lower
windows, on a level with the court-yard, are revolving cupboards, like
half-barrels, and at the back of each is a plate of tin, perforated like
the top of a nutmeg-grater. The nuns of this convent are celebrated for
making sweet confectionary, which people purchase. There is a bell which
the purchaser applies to, and a nun peeps through the perforated tin;
she then lays the dish on a shelf of the revolving cupboard, and turns
it inside out; the dish is taken, the price laid in its place, and it is
turned in. While we stood there, the invisible lady-warder asked for a
pinch of snuff; the box was laid down in the same way, and turned in and
out.

CEREMONY OF THE INITIATION OF A NUN.

The disposition to take the veil, even among young girls, is not
uncommon in Brazil. The opposition of friends can prevent it, until they
are twenty five years old; but after that time they are considered
competent to decide for themselves. A writer describes the initiation of
a young lady, whose wealthy parents were extremely reluctant to have her
take the vow. She held a lighted torch in her hand, in imitation of the
prudent virgins; and when the priest chanted, "Your spouse approaches;
come forth and meet him," she approached the altar singing, "I follow
with my whole heart;" and, accompanied by two nuns already professed,
she knelt before the bishop. She seemed very lovely, with an unusually
sweet, gentle, and pensive countenance. She did not look particularly or
deeply affected; but when she sung her responses, there was something
exceedingly mournful in the soft, tremulous, and timid tones of her
voice. The bishop now exhorted her to make a public profession of her
vows before the congregation, and said, "Will you persevere in your
purpose of holy chastity?" She blushed deeply, and, with a downcast
look, lowly, but firmly answered, "I will." He again said, more
distinctly, "Do you promise to preserve it?" and she replied more
emphatically, "I do promise." The bishop then said, "Thanks be to God;"
and she bent forward and reverently kissed his hand, while he asked her,
"Will you be blest and consecrated?" She replied, "Oh! I wish it."

The habiliments, in which she was hereafter to be clothed, were
sanctified by the aspersion of holy water: then followed se