Ch. XV.] DEVOTIOX TO THE PEIESTS. 281 



pile up great cairns of stones over the graves of their 

 chieftains. 



This care of their church is quite spontaneous on their 

 part, as they have no padre ; indeed from what I knew of 

 the priests in other towns, I think it likely that if they had 

 had one, he would have intercepted most of the offerings 

 expended on the church and images. There are excep- 

 tions, but generally the padres of Central America are 

 rapacious and immoral. They are much now as they were 

 in Thomas Gage's time, more than two hundred years ago, 

 and the poor Indians are just as humble and respectful 

 to them. In his quaint book, (i A Kew Survey of the 

 West Indies," he says, " Above all, to their priest they 

 are very respectful ; and when they come to speak to him 

 put on their best clothes and study their words and 

 compliments to please him. They yielded to the popish 

 religion, especially to the worshipping of saints' images, 

 because they look upon them as much like their fore- 

 fathers' idols. Out of the smallest of their means they 

 will be sure to buy some of these saints, and bring them 

 to the church, that they may stand and be worshipped 

 by them and others. The churches are full of them, 

 and they are placed upon stands, gilded and painted, to 

 be carried in procession on their proper day. And hence 

 comes no small profit to the priests ; for on such saints' 

 days the owner of the saint makes a great feast in the 

 town, and presents the priest sometimes two or three, 

 sometimes four or five crowns for his mass and sermon, 

 besides a turkey and three or four fowls, with as much 

 cacao as will make him chocolate for all the octave or 

 eight clays following. The priest, therefore, is very 

 watchful over these saints' days, and sends warning 



