the South- Sea. 239 



exempted from hearing of Mafs on Days of Obligation^ 

 At Lima they difpenfe with themfelves for going to the 

 Parifh Church, becaufe there are few good Houfes but 

 what have Oratories, that is Chappels, where Mafs is faid, 

 for the Conveniency of the Inhabitants, which cheriflies 

 their Sloth, and keeps them from the Parifh Duty. 



In fliort, if their particular Devotion be ftri&ly Rofdry Devo* 

 min'd 3 it feems to be all reduced to that of the Rofary. It ttm. 

 is faid in all Towns and Villages twice or thrice a Week, 

 at the Proceffions which are made in the Night, in private 

 Families, or elfe every Perfon apart, at leaft every Even- 

 ing, at the falling of the Night. Religious Men wear 

 their Beads about their Necks, and the Laity under their 

 Cloaths. The Confidence they repofe in that pious In- 

 vention of S. Dominick Guzman, which they believe was 

 brought down from Heaven, is fo great, that they ground 

 their Salvation upon it, and cxpeft nothing lefs than Mi- 

 racles from it, being amufed with the fabulous Accounts 

 daily given them, and by the Notion of the good Succefs 

 every one applies to that Devotion in the Courfe of his Af- 

 fairs. But, what will hardly be believ'd, I have often ob- 

 ferv'd, that they alfo depend upon it for the Succefs of 

 their amorous Intrigues. 



Next to the Rofary follows the Devotion of Mount Car- Mount Car- 

 mel, which is no lefs beneficial to the Mercenarians, than me3 - 

 the former is to the Dominicans. 



That of the immaculate Conception is next; the Fran- Conception 

 cifcans and the Jefuites have gain'd it fuch Reputation, that 

 they mention it at commencing all Actions, even the mod 

 indifferent. Praifed be, fay they, when a Sermon begins, 

 at Grace, and at Candle-lighting, in every Houfe, praifed 

 be .the moft Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and the Virgin 

 Mar% our Lady, conceiv'd without Blemilh or original 

 Sin, from the firft Inftant of her natural Being. They add 

 to the Litanies, Abfque labe concepta, Thou who art conceiv'd 

 without Blemijh. In fliort, this Sentence is foifted in at all 

 Times, when it can neither ferye for the Inftru&ion, nor 



