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DISTRIBUTION OF THE 



Peru, — Before I close this letter, I must 

 inform you of a very remarkable occurrence 

 which took place at Arica. Some of the inha- 

 bitants came on board to see the vessel ; on their 

 leaving, I presented each of them with a Spanish 

 bible. A priest, the same evening, came into 

 one of their houses, and found a gentleman 

 reading the bible ; this instantly attracted his 

 notice, and he demanded it from him, which was 

 refused ; a scuffle ensued, and the furious priest 

 caught it from him, summoned him before the 

 governor, who gave directions (influenced by 

 the priest) that it should be burned, which was 

 done immediately, in the most public manner. 

 A search was made for more, but the inhabitants 

 hid them only one was discovered. The day 

 after, about ten in the morning, a furious hurri- 

 cane of wind came on instantaneously, which 

 blew some of the smaller vessels from their an- 

 chors, covered the town with dust, and left it 

 in perfect darkness. The inhabitants, expecting 



