MIRACULOUS CURES. 



367 



village has risen up around the church, com- 

 posed of huts for the sick, who have journeyed 

 far from other districts. The business has com- 

 pletely succeeded, the money which was requir- 

 ed for rebuilding the church has been obtained, 

 and when I came away the concern was going 

 on prosperously. I heard the remark made 

 by some firm believers, that such was the sin- 

 fulness of the inhabitants of the vicinity, that 

 the Lady had scarcely vouchsafed to perform 

 any cures upon them. The wonderful stories 

 of cures were always of persons who lived in 

 remote districts ; but I did meet with a few 

 cases in which fancied illness from lowness of 

 spirits was removed. The general credulity of 

 the lower orders of people, and even of many 

 individuals of the higher ranks, is beyond all 

 belief; no persuasion, no reasoning is of any 

 service ; even a doubt of the truth of every 

 story which is told is not admitted. * 



From hence we proceeded to pay another 

 visit. The owner of this cottage had no cocos 



* Some time ago a wooden figure was brought up out of 

 the sea in a fisherman's net ; it was deposited in a place of 

 safety, and was on inspection, by some person who was 

 judged competent to decide upon the subject, declared to 

 be an image or" St. Luke ; it was removed to a church, and 

 has taken its place as a representative of that saint. Now, I 

 have heard it whispered, that this said St. Luke is no more 

 than the figure-head of some unfortunate vessel which had 

 been cast away, or that the figure had been broken off by a 

 violent wave. 



