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places are organs, and moft have flutes, hautbois, fackbuts, dulcimers, 

 with trumpets bafe and treble, more in this one province of Guatimala 

 than there are in my native country, which is Old Caftille. It is a thing 

 worthy to thank God on to fee the devotion which the natives exhibit 

 when at holy mafs, efpecially if it is faid by fathers of the orders of St. 

 Francis, or of Mercy, who are appointed to the cures of parifhes. All 

 the natives alfo, men, women, and children, are taught the holy ora- 

 tions in their mother tongue, and when they pafs a crofs, crucifix, or 

 altar, they bow, and falling on their knees fay a Pater Nofter or Ave 

 Maria. We, the conquerors alfo taught them to keep wax candles 

 lighted before the holy altars and croffes, for before our arrival they did 

 not know the ufc of wax in making candles. We alfo taught them to 

 behave with refpedt to the reverend fathers, and when they came to 

 their towns, to go out to meet and receive them with lighted wax can- 

 dles, ringing the bells, and giving them plentifully to eatj and thus 

 they do. They have alfo other holy and good cuftoms, for on the day 

 of our Lady, or of Corpus Chrifl-i, and other folemn feafts, when we 

 make proceflions, mofl of the neighbours of tliis city of Guatimala go 

 in proceflion with croiTes and lighted candles, bearing the image of the 

 faint who is their patron or patronefs, as richly dreffed as they can 

 afford; and they go finging the litanies, and other holy orations, and 

 found their flutes and trumpets^ 



The natives of thefe countries have alfo learned the trades ufed 

 amongft us in Caflille, and have their fhops, manufadlories, and jour- 

 neymen, and gain their livelihood thereby. The gold and filverfmiths 

 work both in caft metal, and by the hammer, and excel, as do the lapi- 

 daries and painters. The engravers execute firft rate works, with their 

 fine inflruments of iron, efpecially upon emeralds, whereon they repre- 

 fent all the adls of the holy pafTion of our redeemer and Saviour Jefus 

 Chrifl, in fuch a manner that thofe who had not feen them execute it, 

 would not believe that fuch works could be done by Indians; infomuch 

 that according to my judgment, that famous painter of ancient times 



the 



