Ch.VI. south AMERICA. 411 



following Sunday, when he had been particularly or- 

 dered to make his appearance, charged him with his 

 fault, and diredled that he fhouid receive fome laflies, 

 the ufual punifhment of fuch delinquents, be their 

 age or fex what it will, and perhaps the beft adapted 

 to their ftupidity. After undergoing the punifhment, 

 he turned about to the prieft, and thanked him for 

 having chaftifed him according to his deferts ; to 

 which the prieft replied with fome words of exhor- 

 tation to him, and the audience in general, that they 

 would never omit any duty of Chriftianity. But he 

 had no fooner done, than the poor Indian ftepped up 

 to him, and defired that he would order him a like 

 number of lalhes for the next Sunday, having made 

 an appointment for a drinking match, fo that he 

 fhouid not be prefent. This may ferve as a fpecimen 

 of the little impreffion made on them, notwithftanding 

 all the affiduity of the miffionaries : and that though 

 continually inftrudied, from the firft dawnings of rea- 

 fon till the day of their death, they are found to con- 

 tinue in a ftrange ignorance of the moft effential points 

 of religion. Their indifference here is fo very de- 

 plorable, that they may be faid to give themfelves no 

 more concern about their fouls than about their bo- 

 dies : and though I with pleafure allow, that there are 

 many who, in the culture of their minds, fandity of 

 manners, and delicacy of confcience, equal the moft 

 wife and circumfped ; yet the bulk of them, either 

 by that grofs ignorance which clouds their intelleds, 

 and renders them infenfible of their eternal con- 

 cerns, or their natural depravity, are hardened againft 

 religious exhortations. For though they readily grant 

 every thing that is faid to them, and never offer to 

 make the leaft obje(5lion ; yet they fecretly harbour 

 fufpicions of fome evil defign, and leave room for 

 rnental refervations, which fpoil all. I am little in- 

 clined to lay any falfe charge to this or any nation, 

 ^nd efpecially with regard to fuch an important fub- 



