catechized was performed with all possible solemnity, and with the utmost satisfaction that our Lord had made good in these poor men their lack of hearing and speech.  Their expressions of devotion—­and especially those of the elder, who was christened Raimundo—­were extraordinary, not only during the ceremonies at holy baptism, but when they were sprinkled with the water.  So devoted has Raimundo become that he seldom goes from home.  He diligently attends to all the requirements of devotion, never failing to attend mass, carrying his rosary, beating his breast; and he lacks nothing save speech.  We are convinced that God supplies much more than we can understand.  During this Holy Week Raimundo scourged himself in the procession, and it seemed to me that even had he possessed the power of speech and hearing, he could not have given more satisfactory tokens of his Christian faith.”

The same Father Melchior Hurtado solemnized another baptism, also of considerable importance, as occurring at the point of death.  This baptism took place in a village near to Dulac, called Tambo, whither he had gone to visit and console its people.  This incident and its attendant circumstances are depicted to the life by that father in another letter, in which he says:  “We reached Tambo thoroughly soaked, but with much consolation that we had so opportunely arrived; for at once we were hastily summoned to visit an old man who was dying, who desired holy baptism.  Immediately we set out for his house, where he lived in his grain-field, a little more than a quarter of a legua from the village.  Struggling through mud almost knee-deep, we reached his wretched abode, where we found the poor man in such extremity that speech had failed him.  Knowing that he was a catechumen, and considering the statements of all those present that he had sent for me in order to be baptized, and fearing that he might die on my hands, I at once baptized him, although wishing that I could have prepared him better for the sacrament.  But the Lord, who had inspired him with the desire to ask for baptism, I trust gave him what more he needed for his salvation; for he died soon afterward, on that same night.”

As we have stated, the other Christians continued to increase together in numbers, as well as in virtue and edification, as may be seen from some special instances.  At the beginning of Advent, we preached to them about fasting and abstinence, which are practiced throughout the world by good Christians in their piety and devotion.  So earnestly did they set about this that one of them fasted four days in the week, in all that time eating only roots.  Throughout Lent they repaired to the church, three days in the week, to take the discipline, the singers meanwhile chanting the Miserere to the accompaniment of the organ; and with the same devotion they attended the sermons which were preached to them two days in the week.  During Holy Week there was a great concourse of people from the neighboring villages; and on Holy Thursday and Friday they had well-ordered processions with many flagellants, in which some bore on their shoulders large crosses.  The most blessed sacrament was kept in a receptacle adorned with many ornaments and jewels of gold; all the time while it was enclosed therein, the chiefs were present in behalf of their districts armed according to their custom.