their ability: and some teach their children to say their prayers, and to read; and some do not.
Indeed their religion, at the best, is but negative, that is, they are not heathen; they do not comply with the idolatry here practised: and they profess themselves Christians in a general manner; which appears by their names, and by their beads and crosses, that some of them wear about their necks.
Nor indeed can I wholly clear them from compliance with the religion of the country. For some of them, when they are sick do use the ceremonies which the heathen do in the like case: as in making idols of clay, and setting them up in their houses, and offering rice to them; and having weavers to dance before them. But they are ashamed to be known to do this: and I have known none to do it, but such as are Indian born. Yet I never knew any of them, that do inwardly in heart and conscience incline to the ways of the heathen; but perfectly abhor them. Nor have there been any, I ever heard of, that came to their temples, upon any religious account; but only would stand by and look on: without it were one old priest, named Padre VERGONSE, a Genoese born and of the Jesuit's order; who would go to the temples and eat with the weavers and other ordinary people, of the sacrifices offered to the idols. But with this apology for himself; "That he ate it as common meat and as GOD's creature; and that it was never the worse for the superstition that had passed upon it."
But however this may reflect upon the Father, another thing may be related for his honour. There happened two priests to fall into the hands of the King, on whom he conferred great honours. For having laid aside their habits, they kept about his person; and were the greatest favourites at Court. The King, one day, sent for VERGONSE, and asked him if it would not be better for him to lay aside his old coat and cap; and to do as the other two priests had done, and receive honour from him. He replied to the King, "That he boasted more in that old habit, and in the name of JESUS; than in all the honour that he could do him." And so refused the King's honour. The King valued the Father for this saying.
He had a pretty library about him, and died in his bed of old age: whereas the two other priests in the King's service, died miserably; one of a cancer, and the other was slain.
