The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-09-06


sackcloth, which completely disguises the
Vvhole body: two small holes are LETT in the
head mart to enable them to see their way, &
thew carry heavy wooden cross. Numbers
ofcolOmrs and banners are dispersed among
the different groups, and the whole is closed
by detachment Of the military.--At night
the whole city is illuminated, which has
a most beautiful effect when seen from the wa
ter.
On these occasions the whole population
of the island seems to pour itself into the Fun
chal ; and think, speak within compass
when assert, that have seen, at least go, 900
persons viewing or assisting at these religious
exhibitions. There may be seen the peasant
~, a tall and well-built race Of men, with
compilations almost approaching to copper,
dressed in clean white linen trOwSers, made
very wide, over which are drawn boots of
&. buff leather, but very often they are satisfied
with boot on one foot and shoe on the 9th
err; coarse white shirt, open at the neck,
displaying their sun burnt breasts; blue cap
Just covering the top Of black bushy head,
and short blue jacket, generally ornament
ed with siN err buttons, constitute the remain
der Of his dress, except in winter, when they
wear long clOaks 10 addition, which, if it
do not rain, are carelessly thrown over
their shoulders.----The dress of the female
peasants is not inelegant. 1t consists of
blue petticoats, bound with red; IA short
red cloak, bound with blue ribbon, and
blue pointed cap, with gold or silver orna-
ments in the ears and hair. On process
sion day thousands of these simple people
dressed as / have described, may be seen
crowding into Funchal from all directions,
to witness the solemn pageaEtry Of their
religion. Some Of the younger women may
be called handsome; but they are, general
ly speaking, of hard yet not disagreeable
features. They have high cheek bones,
dark compilations, and large feet; the latter
owing, perhaps to the efforts they are OBJ
lged to make in climbing the steep and
craggy paths of this country. Their bodies
are, however well proportioned, and their
eyes are large, lively and black. But the
hard labour they are obliged to undergo,
quickly brings on premature old age: for.
whist the men are cultivating the vineyards
or engaged in other necessary occupations
of husbandry, their wives and daughters are
employed in procuring food for their cat
tie, and often are obliged to travel to
great distance over rugged paths, in order
to cut broom for fuel. This they carried
in loads to the city, and disposed of, for
their own sustenance.---This almost unin-
terrupted labour, and that of the most Sc
we're description, added to meagre diet makes
them old in constitution, although young in
years.
Perhaps some surprise may be excited at
my assertion, that poorness of food is one of
the causes of the debility to which the peas
antry are so much Subjects that, in coun-
try apparently possessing every thing within
itself to make life happy, the lot of the labor
er lit will BIZ fancled) must be better than in
other less favoured climates. Nevertheless,
my statement is perfectly correct. Their
food consistMvf little else but bread g. roots.
Perhaps they may have now and then,
small portion of animal food, if may be al
lowed to give that name to sailed Goldfish, or
white herrings. The taste of beef is unknown
to them. Their common drink .water, or
aqua pc, kind of small beer exssaktsA from
the husNs. Of theagraPes after the Re pas
sed through the wine press, whcl when fer
mented, acquires some degree of tartness, but
will not keep. The wine prepared by their
own hands is never suffered to pass their lips,
nor can this be at all wondered at, ground
down as they are, by the worst of political
evils--excessive taxation; and yet no where
can the virtue of hospitality be carried high
or than it is by these unsophistical children
of nature. l could speak little of their Ian
guage. They knew me to be an Englishman
and Of course, believed me to he an hereto
but Notwithstanding these draw hacks, Ihave
received such attention and civility from them
as. in our more polished country, is scarcely
ever displayed by apeasant to Il stranger or
foreigner have passed many nights in their
mountain cots, and partaken the best of their
homely food; but, on quitting them, to offer
remuneration were an affront, and it was on
ly begging for one of the children, under the
pretence Of wanting guide on my way, that
have been able to make slight compensa-
ton for the trouble had given; and where
had once rested I was certain second
time, to find generous and hearty welcome.
There are no wheeled carriages Of any des-
cription upon this island; indeed, the roads
are. in general, SO steep and narrow, that tits
question, whether it would be possible to
make use of them or not. The rnush is
brought to the city, from the vineyards where
It Is made. either in small kegs or vessels COM
posed OF goats skin, which the men carry on
their shoulders; and they transport their wine
from one warehouse to another, or to the
beach, for shipment on sledges, drawn by OK
en-. with one pipe only. The oxen are very
small, but remarkably fine, docile animals,
with short, smooth hair, and the drivers pay
every attention them: thus forming strik-
ing contrast to the commonly brutal behavior
ofEngllsh carmen to their horses, which is