attacks,
keeping as such all those whom they did not wish to kill. Since these
cruelties were so usual among them, and, on the other hand, the poor
are commonly oppressed by the powerful, it was easy to increase the
number of slaves. Consequently they used to have, and still do have,
a very large number of slaves, which among them is the greatest of
riches. This has been no small hindrance to their conversion, and has
fettered the hands of many ministers of the gospel, and subjected
them to great doubts and perplexities. But since, on the one hand,
pious individuals have, although with difficulty, paid ransoms;
and, on the other, the royal magistrates have ascertained the facts
and provided redress for those thus tyrannically treated who seek
their liberty; and, moreover, since God our Lord has influenced many
in their baptisms and confessions, an enormous number of ransoms
have been given. Usury also quickly diminished, the creditors being
satisfied with the original interest, without expecting a continual
increase. But now, through the grace of our Lord, all that custom has
been abolished, and the natives now proceed with mercy and Christian
charity, not only in Ogmuc and throughout the island of Leite, but
in all the other islands where there is knowledge of Jesus Christ.

What the Christians accomplished in Carigara. Chapter XXXXVII.

From the very beginning, the people of this mission showed their
fervor; consequently, the Christians continued to increase in numbers,
although, as I have said, our fathers were very cautious in granting
holy baptism. All those Christians have frequent recourse to the
confessional, prizing it highly and greatly benefiting their own
souls. Those who are not Christians are all catechumens; and there is
not one of them who does not desire holy baptism. There was formed in
this church, and completed this year, a very delightful musical choir,
composed of the children themselves, who are very clever in this
exercise; and thus the divine services are celebrated with solemnity.

Of the remarkable increase in the mission of Paloc. Chapter XXXXVIII.

This village is one of the finest and best regulated in all the
island, thanks to the labors of one of our fathers, who helped the
natives to construct good houses. The Christian doctrine is taught
every day to the children in all the villages; and so many of them
attend this exercise that it is necessary to appoint four chanters
i