that they have, upon various occasions, supplied the lack of priests and the need for catechizing and instruction in those villages.  It was in this way that a native chief in one of those neighboring villages, having heard one of Ours preach, became so enamored of the things of our holy faith, and so desirous that he and his villagers might know them, that he went straightway to his encomendero and entreated him to find for them some Indian well instructed in our doctrine, who might impart to them the prayers and catechism.  An Indian was sent, as he had desired; they received him very hospitably, and all promptly learned the doctrine.  They manifested their gratitude for such benefits by entertaining their teacher liberally during his stay and presenting some gifts to him at his departure.  Two or three times afterward, this same chief came to ask our fathers to send someone to his district to baptize his people, saying that they all desired to receive holy baptism.  The earnest affection wherewith they asked for it was manifest in another Indian whose baptism our fathers delayed until he should be better prepared for it:  but each day his desire and fervor increased, and each day he became more fixed in his good resolution.  One day a father asked him why he did not cut off his hair, since he desired to become a Christian.  At once he made answer with much affection:  “The hair, Father, and nothing more?  Do but grant me what I ask, and I will cut off, not only my hair, but even my arm, in return for baptism.”  This man was almost on the point of tearing out his eyes, or cutting off his hand or foot, to his own shame.

But who can exaggerate the satisfaction and devotion wherewith they receive in their villages these servants of the Lord, when the latter go to visit them?  This will be seen in an account of such a journey, made by Father Juan de San Lucar, who himself thus describes it:  “I cannot express the satisfaction which was caused by our visits to all these villages.  We reached the first one, called Ibatan, in the middle of the night.  The people had already learned that we were to go to their village, and, in spite of the late hour, they did not weary of waiting; indeed, they were all waiting on the shore, where they had lighted fires.  As soon as we arrived, the leading chiefs cast themselves into the water in order to take hold of our boat; and we could not prevent them from carrying us ashore on their shoulders.  In the two weeks that we spent there, great was the fervor of their attendance at our church, as well as the concourse of men and boys on certain nights for the purpose of scourging themselves; at the same hour the women throughout the village performed the same exercises at their homes.  Ten children and thirty adults were baptized, and to some holy communion was granted after they had been prepared by a sermon on that subject.  All those who received the most blessed sacrament manifested great unworldliness and exemplary virtue.