( "7 r ) 



is fc much the greater, as it is affifted by thought 

 and reflection. 



The inhabitants are favages, or Indians, but who 

 derive nothing from their birth and original but 

 what is really eftimable, that is to fay, the fim- 

 plicity and opennefs of the firfl ages of the world, 

 together with thofe improvements which Grace has 

 made upon them •, a patriarchal faith, a fin cere 

 piety, that rectitude and docility of heart which 

 conrlitute a true faint an incredible innocence of 

 manners and laftly, pure Lhriftianity, on which 

 the world has not yet breathed that contagious air 

 which corrupts it ; and that frequently attended 

 with acts or the moft heroick virtue. Nothing can 

 be more affecting than to hear them fmg in two 

 choirs, the men on one fide, and the women on 

 the other, the prayers and hymns of the church in 

 their own language. Nor is there any thing which 

 can be compared to that fervour and modefty which 

 they difplay in all their religious exercifes ; and I 

 have never feen any one, who was not touched with 

 it to the bottom of his heart. 



This village has been formerly much better peo- 

 pled than at prefent, but diftempers, and I know 

 not what caufe, which infenfibly reduces to nothing 

 all the nations of this continent, have greatly di- 

 minifhed the number of its inhabitants. The old 

 age and infirmities of fome of their ancient parlors 

 had likewife occafioned the failing oft of fome from 

 their primitive zeal, but it has been no difficult 

 matter to bring them back to it again ; and he who 

 directs them at prefent has nothing to do but to keep 

 things on the fame footing in which he found them. 

 It is true, that it is impoffible to carry to a farther 

 length than has been done the precautions they ofe 

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