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.

On this day a poor Indian failed to appear with the others at the
church for the divine services, having gone to the river to bathe;
there, by divine permission, a cayman seized him, and well nigh caused
his death. He was brought to the church covered with gashes, and in
such agony that he could neither understand, nor hear, nor utter a
word. On account of his precarious condition, and as he was one of
the catechumens, he was at once baptized. Being urged to invoke the
most holy name of Jesus, this man, who had not been able to speak
one word, was granted such strength that twice he uttered distinctly,
"Jesus, Jesus," and died with that honey on his lips.

I will relate another and similar incident, equally interesting,
although it occurred at a different time and in a different place. A
poor Indian one night, in his grain-field, suspecting no harm,
received several knife thrusts, so grievous that it is considered
almost a miracle that they did not instantly kill him; for all his
abdomen was cut open, and his entrails lay on the ground. In this
condition he remained until morning, when he sent another Indian,
who by chance left his route to pass that way, to summon the fiscal
of the church, since the fathers did not reside in that village. The
fiscal went, and found the poor man in such misery that some dogs were
actually beginning to devour him alive. Asking with great earnestness
for the sacrament, he was accordingly baptized, whereupon he at once
expired. It seemed that our Lord would wait no longer to receive him
to Himself.

But to return to Lent at Dulac: The good example set by a Spaniard
who happened to be there during this holy time, was most valuable. It
was he who adorned, as we have mentioned, the receptacle of the most
blessed sacrament, and who sent much wax to furnish its illumination;
and he remained under arms, guarding the sepulchre, and marched
in the procession with the Indians, bleeding severely under the
scourge. Not content with this, he went a second time along the
streets through which the procession had passed (a long distance),
scourging himself. The Indians were greatly edified at this, and,
as I have said, hast