20S 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
to Gaudalupe. The whole country is overrun with locusts. 
The fruits, the chief sustenance of the Indians, are entirely de¬ 
stroyed. The maize and other supplies in the granaries, are dis¬ 
tributed to save them from famine. But in Gaudalupe, even 
these are insufficient. The Indians are therefore compelled 
to subsist on the locusts ; and the consequence is a terrible 
epidemic, by which great numbers are destroyed. They are 
afflicted with painful ulcers of a most loathsome character. 
During this epidemic, Padre Hellen has to fill the offices of 
physician, nurse, confessor, priest, and father. He endures 
almost incredible fatigue ; flies from one village to another; 
administers medicine, prepares food, and smoothes with a wo¬ 
man’s tenderness, the rude couches of his suffering children. 
Thus he continues till the sickness ends; when worn out with 
the multiplicity and the character of his labors, he hails the 
approach of a season of rest with joy and thanksgiving. But 
scarcely does it come, when another still more fatal pestilence 
breaks out among them. A dysentery unusually fatal sum¬ 
mons the fainting energies of the good Padre to another 
effort. He again enters upon his charitable offices, going 
from rancheria to rancheria, like an angel of mercy, consoling, 
comforting, praying and blessing. At last the consequences 
of his severe labor fall upon himself in a distressing hernia, 
and defluxion of the eyes, so extremely painful, that he is 
obliged to leave his flock and retire to Loretto. In a few 
months he is sufficiently restored, however, to return to his du¬ 
ties, and his afflicted Indians receive him with every demon¬ 
stration of faithful love and veneration. The Padre avails him¬ 
self of this attachment to draw them to his faith so effectually, 
that, in 1726, seventeen hundred and seven converts of all 
ages are the fruit of Padre Hellen’s devout labors. Some, 
living at a distance, are attached to the more contiguous mis¬ 
sions of Santa Rosalia and San Ignacio. But twenty ranche- 
rias remain to Padre Hellen. These he maintains in the most 
peaceful and gentle intercourse with each other and with 
himself. They are divided into villages of four rancherias. 
