We cannot avoid mentioning a very notable conversion in that province of Caraghas.  There was a chief, named Inuc, so celebrated and feared that through his power and cunning he was absolute master of a considerable territory, and the shores of a river that afterward took his name.  That barbarian was not satisfied with tyrannizing within his own boundaries, but entering those of others, sailed through the gulfs and along the coasts, in search of whom he might rob, capture, and kill.  It is said of that man that he had made more than two thousand persons slaves, and killed innumerable men with his own hand.  Consequently, he was feared in the neighboring islands; while no vessel dared to go to his lands—­especially one of Spaniards, whom he hated beyond measure, so that he would never agree to make treaties of peace or of profit with them.

The perdition of that man and the injuries and offenses that he committed against God and his neighbors, caused great anguish to father Fray Juan de la Madre de Dios, [50] a native of Villa-Banez in old Castilla, and one of the eight who went to Caragha.  He took it upon himself to subdue this man without other aid than confidence of that of God.  In order to achieve it, he prepared himself by special fasting and prayers.  He went alone to look for him; having found him—­to the great surprise of Inuc himself, who thought that the religious had great boldness in coming into his presence—­the latter talked to him so fittingly and fervently, that the tyrant, having first pardoned the father’s coming without his leave, thanked him for the holy admonitions that he gave to him.  Showing him great affection, Inuc admitted trade between his countrymen and the Spaniards; then he consented that the holy gospel might be preached in his territories.  He gave his vassals an example by being baptized; by sending away his numerous wives and marrying the first according to the rites of the Church; by freeing his captives; and by issuing an edict allowing those aggrieved to come to him to receive reparation for the injuries which he had inflicted on them.  He fulfilled that exactly, binding himself by two judges, namely, our religious and the captain of the fort of Tanda.  They settling and sentencing with all equity, restored to those interested whatever appeared to be theirs.  Thus did he who was before a haughty tyrant become a humble sheep of the flock of the Church, and a faithful vassal of the kings of Castilla.  News of that conversion spread throughout those districts, and following his example, many heathen submitted to the yoke of our holy law.