DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 105 
adopted in their case, resolved to avenge the 
cause of their sex. For this purpose, they chose 
the opposite bank of a. rivulet which flowed before 
the garden of the missionaries as their place of 
bathing, where they exhibited themselves during 
the whole day, often in very indecent attitudes. 
The afflicted fathers laid their distress before the 
king, but soon found the evil doubled by this 
proof of the effect which it had produced. They 
had, at last, no remedy but to build a high wall in 
front of their garden. 
The next affair had a more satisfactory termi- 
nation. One of the fathers happening to go into 
a smith's shop, entered into religious conversation, 
and endeavoured to inculcate the truth, that there 
was only one God. The smith, smiling, observ- 
ed that he was mistaken,— there was another ; 
and in reply to the eager inquiry which this state- 
ment excited, added, that this other was himself. 
On investigation, it accordingly proved, that he 
had a numerous train of adorers, who maintained, 
that the admirable works which came from his 
hand, could be produced only by supernatural 
power. The fathers instantly dragged this new di- 
vinity before the tribunal of the king. That prince, 
who had himself some pretensions to deity, did not 
choose to have a rival among his own subjects. He 
delivered, therefore, the smith-god into the hands 
of the missionaries, to be reduced to a mortal, in 
any manner which they might deem expedient. 
