Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-09-14

Permost IN my thoughts. he at once
admitted frankly the existence Of the
practice OF publicldagellation at Fenaes
dAjuda, speaking of it in terms oi
strong reprobation as a barbarism.
both inhuman in itself and inconsistent
with the modern teaching of his own
church. But so deeply rooted, he
averred, is the custom, and the belief
in its efficacy, that even the influence
OF the priests Is totally powerless to
suppress it. Sincere as this protest
assuredly was, l subsequently found its
truth to be much questioned in Ponta
Delgada, though the subject was al
most as foreign to that metropolis as
to London ITSELF
Arrived at Fenaces d'Ajuda, / short
ly made the acquaintance of two other
priests, also young and educated men;
and, after some hesitation, obtained q
full confirmation of their colleagues
information with n similar, though
less forcible, comment. 1t was during
an examination Of the principal church
OF Fenaes, dedicated TO the Roys
Magos (Magi) that the following facts
were communicated. The building,
which forms the headquarters OF the
ceremony described, is an unattached
church known as NOssa Senhora
d'Ajuda, connected with the now ex-
tinct Convento dos Trades, which joins
it. The edifice is landmark to the
surrounding country, standing promi-
nently near the head Of the Ajuda
Point overlooking the ocean, while
the Magos. or parish church, which
disclaims these practices, is situated
In the center OF the village. The feat
ure Of the procession on the Sunday
OF the Passos is band of eighteen
men, whose identity remains unknown
even TO many of their own fellow-villa-
gers. They are attired for the occas-
ion in a white nondescript robe, the
hood of which entirely covers tho
head and face, while the back is bare
for the inflictlon of the scourge
welded by each in his own hand. The
never ceases during the
course OF the procession through sew
eral of the struggling streets of the
village, and the hideous scene culmi-
mates in the little cOnvental church,
where mass is celebrated by one OF the
Fenaes priests to this horrible accom-
paniment. The church is of the type
throughout the islands, nicely
kept, and not without architectural
pretensions OF seventeenth century
character. 1t was open to our inspec-
ion on the occasion of our visit, and
here all question was set at rest by an
evidence which needed not the verifca-
ion it received on all sides. Right
md left of the altar found the white
washed walls and the two confessionals
lashed and spattered to height Of |
our or five feet from the ground with
he blood of these poor self-tortured
martyrs, crying aloud, indeed, though
N a voice far different TO that intend
ID, TO the Heaven it thus seeks to
,ropitiate.
The first Of these weapons is a
courge (azorrague), consisting Of a
hort handle of dark wood with an
ron ring, and bunch of cord termi-
Iating in twelve hard twisted leather
hongs. This is bad enough sug-
but the other (aagella) out
Ierods it. A hard ball Of wax, sus-
'ended by looped string, and the size
I small hens egg, is set all over
nth horrid splinters of glass about
alf an inch long, keen as needle and
azor combined, and making ones
esh quiver to realize the method OF
IS use as graphically pictured by the
estures of my informant.-Cor. Lon
on Standard.