Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0143
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[Page 143]
Rio de Janeiro
Edifice at this ceremony all boys under a certain age were obligd to attend nor were the gentlemens sons ever excusd Each of these were dressd in a Black cassock with a short red Cloak reaching half way down their shoulders & carried in his hand a Lanthorn hung on the End of a pole about 6 or 7 feet long the light caused by this (for there were always at least 200 Lights) is greater than can be imagind I myself who saw it out of the cabbin windows call together my mess mates & shewd it to them imagining that the town was on fire
besides this walking traveling religion a man who walks the streets has opportunity enough to shew his attachment to any saint in the Calendar for every corner & almost every house has before it a little cupboard in which some Saint or other keeps his Residence & Least he should not see his