Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 387 



madilla, after a voyage of ten months, they arrived at 

 Gran Para on the 12th of December, whence, accord- 

 ing to their inftrudlions, they palled over to Spain, 

 and completely acquitted themfelves of the truft re- 

 pofed in them. 



At the end of the laft century, another expedition 

 was undertaken, for making difcoveries on the Ma- 

 ranon ; but at that time it was already fo well known, 

 that mofi of the adjacent lands had been improved 

 by the miffions which the Jeluits had fettled there : 

 and the government of Manas now includes many 

 nations, who, on the fervent preaching of the Jefuits, 

 having embraced Chriftianity, vowed obedience to the 

 kings of Spain ; and a happy alteration was feen in 

 their morals and cuiloms. The banks of this river, 

 where before only wild Indians were feen living in the 

 manner of beads, were now turned into plantations 

 and regular towns, the inhabitants of which fhev/ed 

 that they were not deftitute of reafon and humanity. 

 Thefe improvements were in a great nieafure owing 

 to Father Samuel Fritz, who, in 1686, preached the 

 Gofpel among thofe people, and in a fnort time v/as 

 the inftrument of the converfion of many nations : 

 but the continual fatigues and hardfhips, both by 

 land and water, affefted his health to fuch a degree, 

 that he was obliged to fet out for Para in January 

 1689, and arrived there on the iith of September of 

 the fame year. Here he remained in a difagreeable 

 ina6livity, till his health was reftored, and fome affairs 

 fettled which required inftrudlions from the court of 

 Lifbon. 



July the 8th, 1691, Father Fritz left Para, in order 

 to return to his milTion, which then reached from the 

 mouth of the river Napo to fome diftance beyond the 

 Negro, and included the Omaguas, Yurimaguas, 

 Ayfuares, and many other adjacent nations, the mod 

 numerous of the whole river. Odober the 1 3th, in 

 the fame year, he returned to the town of Nueftra Se- 



C c 2 nora 



