412 A VOYAGE TO Book VI, 



jed: : and in confirmation of what I have faid, fliall 

 relate fome further particulars. 



Every Sunday in the year the dodlrinal priefts in- 

 ilrud their parifh in the articles of Chriftianity with 

 indefatigable zeal ^ alfo, when any Indian is fick, they 

 never fail to vifit and exhort him to prepare for a 

 comfortable pafTage into eternity, adding whatever 

 they judge may conduce to the opening the eyes of 

 his underftanding ; pathetically expatiating on the 

 juftice and mercy of God, the nature of death, the 

 certainty of an approaching judgement, and his pre- 

 fent danger. After fpeaking thus a confiderable time, 

 without a word from the patient, or the lead fign of 

 emotion in his countenance, the good man proceeds 

 to remind him of his fins, and exhorts him to a fincere 

 repentance, and to implore the mercy of his Creator ; 

 as, otherwife, his foul will be punifhed to all eternity. 

 The Indian at length anfwers, with a ferene faintnefs, 



So it will be, father meaning, that things will 

 happen as he has predid:ed ; but does not under- 

 hand in what thefe threatened fufferings confift. 

 I have often heard priefts of thofe towns, and 

 men of parts and learning, talk with great con- 

 cern on this fubjcft. Hence it is, that there are very 

 few Indians to whom the holy eucharift is admi- 

 niftered : nor would thofe of the houfe, where a fick 

 perfon lies, ever give notice of it to the prieft, were 

 they not afraid of the punilhment which the law in thefe 

 cafes inflids : and even as it is, they often negleft this 

 duty, and the patient dies without receiving the facta- 

 ment. 



In their marriages they run counter to tjie fenti- 

 ments of all nations, efteeming what others deteft ; 

 a virgin being never the objedt of their choice; for 

 they look on it as a fure fign, that fhe who has not 

 been known to others can have nothing pleafing 

 about her. 



