A BAPTISM. 



31 



much respect as if he had been the pope, but did not 

 understand a word he said. I explained to Augustin 

 in French, who explained to one of the men in Span- 

 ish, who explained to the women. This, of course, led 

 to confusion ; but all were so devout and respectful, 

 that, in spite of these tribulations, the ceremony was 

 solemn. When he came to the Latin parts, our friend 

 rattled it off as fast as if fresh from the Propaganda at 

 Rome, and the Caribs were not much behindhand. 



The padre had told us of the passion of the Caribs 

 for a multiplicity of names ; and one of the women, 

 after giving her child three or four, pointed to me, and 

 told him to add mine. I am not very strict, but I did 

 not care to assume wantonly the obligations of a god- 

 father ; and, stopping the ceremony, begged the padre 

 to get me released with the best grace he could. He 

 promised to do so ; but it was an excessively hot day ; 

 the room was crowded, the doors choked up, and by 

 this time the padre, with his Latin, and English, and 

 French, and Spanish, was in a profuse perspiration, 

 and somewhat confused. I thought myself clear, till, 

 a few moments afterward, a child was passed along 

 for me to take in my arms ; but I was relieved on one 

 point : I thought that it was the lady who had become 

 a mother without being a wife, that wished her child 

 to bear my name, but it was another ; still I most un- 

 gallantly avoided receiving the baby. On going away, 

 however, the woman intercepted me, and, thrusting 

 forward the child, called me compadre ; so that, with- 

 out knowing it, I became godfather to a Carib child ; 

 fortunately, its mother was an honest woman, and the 

 father stood by at the time. In all probability I shall 

 never have much to do with its training ; and I can only 



