the South-Sea, 



Of the Indians of Chili. 



ABOUT La Conception there are few Indians true 

 Chriftians, befides thofe who are fubjed to, and in 

 the Service of the Spaniards : And it is to be doubted whe- 

 ther they are fo, any farther than being baptized, and that 

 they are inftrudted in the efTential Points of Religion. This 

 is true, that they carry the Worfhip of Images almoft to 

 Idolatry : They take fo great an Affe&ion to them, as of- 

 ten to carry them Meat and Drink, judging no otherwifc 

 of Things than by what affe&s the Senfes ; To hard is it for 

 them to conceive that there is a Soul in Man, which can be 

 feparated from the Body. If Care is not taken to make 

 them comprehend, that by enjoying the heavenly Blifs, the 

 Saints behold in God what is doing here below, that by 

 that Means hearing our Prayers they intercede for us, 

 and that their Images are no other than Signs madeufe of 

 to reprefent to us their Anions $ it is not to be thought 

 ftrange that they fhould carry them Meat and Drink, fince, 

 feeing them magnificently clad and incens'd by the Spani- 

 ards^ they imagine they muft alfo have Food to nourifli 

 them, and that the Smoak of the Frankincenfe is not fuffi- 

 cient to fupport them. 



The Indians on the Frontiers, efpecially along the Coaft, 

 feem well enough inclined to embrace our Religion, if it 

 did not prohibit Polygamy and Drunkennefs ; nay, fome 

 of them will be baptized, but they cannot overcome them- 



tion 9 Don Juan Gonzales Montero, going a Vifitation in 

 his Diocefe, in 171 2, was expe&ed beyond the River B/0- 

 bio, by above 400 Indians, who, fancying that he came to 

 take away their Wives, were pofitively for murdering of 

 him. It was abfolutely neceffary, in order to fave him- 

 felf^ to undeceive and affure them that he would not offer 

 any Violence to them. I enquired carefully after their 

 Religion, and was inform'd that they have none. A Je- 



felves as to thofe two Points. 



I 



fmt 



