64 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



The venerable Franciscan friar, Jacobo de Fes- 

 tera, although superior and prelate of the rich prov- 

 ince of Mexico, zealous, sajs the historian, for the 

 conversion of souls, and desirous to reduce the 

 whole v^orld to the knowledge of the true God, of- 

 fered himself for this spiritual conquest, expecting 

 many hardships, and doubtful of the result. Four 

 persons of the same order were assigned as his 

 companions ; and, attended by some friendly Mex- 

 icans who had been converted to Christianity, on 

 the eighth of March they arrived at Champoton, 

 famed for the " mala pelea," or bad fight, of the 

 Spaniards. 



The Mexicans went before them to give notice 

 of their coming, and to say that they came in the 

 spirit of peace, few in number, and without arms, 

 caring only for the salvation of souls, and to make 

 known to the people the true God, whom they ought 

 to worship. The lords of Champoton received the 

 Mexican messengers amicably, and, satisfied that 

 they could run but little risk, allowed the mission- 

 aries to enter their country. Regardless of the con- 

 cerns of this world, says the historian, and irre- 

 proachable in their lives, they prevailed upon the 

 Indians to listen to their preaching, and in a few 

 days enjoyed the fruit of their labours. This fruit, 

 he adds, " was not so great as if they had had in- 

 terpreters famihar with the idiom ; but the divine 

 grace and the earnestness of these ministers were so 

 powerful that, after forty days' communication, the 



