Both men and women were barefooted.
As chance would have it, I witnessed a burial and a christening.
Before mass commenced, a boat crossed over from the opposite bank of the Parahyby, and on reaching the side, a hammock, in which was the deceased, was lifted out.

He was then laid in a coffin which had been prepared for the purpose in a house near the churchyard.

The corpse was enveloped in a white cloth, with the feet and half the head protruding beyond it; the latter was covered with a peaked cap of shining black cloth.
The christening took place before the burial.

The person who was to be christened was a young negro of fifteen, who stood with his mother at the church door.

As the priest entered the church to perform mass, he christened him, in passing by, without much ceremony or solemnity, and even without sponsors; the boy, too, seemed to be as little touched by the whole affair as a new born infant.