fer death.
Those who wore the Sanbenitos had to walk in the procession, and receive
but slight punishment; those who wore the Samarias had been condemned,
but had been saved from the consuming fire, by an acknowledgment of
their offence; the flames painted on their dresses were _reversed_, and
signified that they were not to suffer; but this the unfortunate
wretches did not know, and the horrors of a cruel death stared them in
the face!

Another hall, similar to the one in which the men had been collected,
was occupied by female culprits. The same ceremonies were observed--the
same doubt fear and agony, were depicted upon every countenance. But
there was a third chamber, smaller than the other two, and this chamber
was reserved for those who had been sentenced and who were to suffer at
the stake. It was into this chamber that Amine was led, and there she
found seven other prisoners, dressed in the same manner as herself: two
only were Europeans, the other five were negro slaves. Each of these
had his confessor with him, and was earnestly listening to his
exhortation. A monk approached Amine, but she waved him away with her
hand: he looked at her, spat on the floor, and cursed her. The head
gaoler now made his appearance with the dresses for those who were in
this chamber; these were Samarias, only different from the others,
inasmuch as the flames were painted on them _upwards_ instead of down.
These dresses were of grey stuff, and loose, like a waggoner's frock; at
the lower part of them, both before and behind, was painted the likeness
of the wearer that is the face only, resting upon a burning fagot, and
surrounded with flames and demons. Under the portrait was written the
crime for which the party suffered. Sugar-loaf caps, with flames
painted on them, were also brought and put on their heads, and the long
wax candles were placed into their hands.

Amine, and the others condemned, being arrayed in these dresses,
remained in the chambers for some hours before it was time for the
procession to commence, for they had been all summoned up by the gaolers
at about two o'clock in the morning.

The sun rose brilliantly, much to the joy of the members of the Holy
Office, who would not have had the day obscured on which they were to
vindicate the honour of the Church, and to prove how well they acted up
to the mild doctrines of the Saviour--those of charity, good-will,
forbearing one another forgiving one another.