110 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
The women depart at day-break to till the ground, 
carrying or leading all their children along with 
them, and do not return till the evening. The 
village is surrounded with a strong hedge of 
thorrs, for the purpose of excluding wild ani- 
mals. 
At this place the missionary began the work 
of conversion, which seems to have consisted in 
the mere manual operation of baptism. As soon 
as he arrived, the maJwlonte^ or chief, sent round 
the libatte, ordering all the inhabitants to bring 
their children, that they might undergo that ope- 
ration. They came in considerable numbers; 
and it was expected, it seems, that each should 
bring some present " by way of alms," in return 
for so great a spiritual benefit. Two handker- 
chiefs, 3500 cowzies, or a fat pullet, formed the 
usual gifts. Those, however, who had nothing to 
give, " were christened for God's sake." Two 
masses were then said, and catechetical instruc- 
tions given, after which the people began to ce- 
lebrate the occasion, *' by playing on various 
" instruments, that they might be heard half a 
" league off." 
The chief circumstance by which the journey 
is diversified, appears to be the peril and alarm 
from the approach of wild beasts. Our author 
felt no small trepidation, when, lying asleep in 
his hammock, in one of the libattes, he heard, on 
