much more than we can understand. During this Holy Week Raimundo
scourged himself in the procession, and it seemed to me that even
had he possessed the power of speech and hearing, he could not have
given more satisfactory tokens of his Christian faith."

The same Father Melchior Hurtado solemnized another baptism, also
of considerable importance, as occurring at the point of death. This
baptism took place in a village near to Dulac, called Tambo, whither
he had gone to visit and console its people. This incident and its
attendant circumstances are depicted to the life by that father in
another letter, in which he says: "We reached Tambo thoroughly soaked,
but with much consolation that we had so opportunely arrived; for
at once we were hastily summoned to visit an old man who was dying,
who desired holy baptism. Immediately we set out for his house, where
he lived in his grain-field, a little more than a quarter of a legua
from the village. Struggling through mud almost knee-deep, we reached
his wretched abode, where we found the poor man in such extremity
that speech had failed him. Knowing that he was a catechumen, and
considering the statements of all those present that he had sent for
me in order to be baptized, and fearing that he might die on my hands,
I at once baptized him, although wishing that I could have prepared
him better for the sacrament. But the Lord, who had inspired him with
the desire to ask for baptism, I trust gave him what more he needed
for his salvation; for he died soon afterward, on that same night."

As we have stated, the other Christians continued to increase together
in numbers, as well as in virtue and edification, as may be seen from
some special instances. At the beginning of Advent, we preached to
them about fasting and abstinence, which are practiced throughout the
world by good Christians in their piety and devotion. So earnestly did
they set about this that one of them fasted four days in the week,
in all that time eating only roots. Throughout Lent they repaired
to the church, three days in the week, to take the discipline,
the singers meanwhile chanting the _Miserere_ to the accompaniment
of the organ; and with the same devotion they attended the sermons
which were preached to them two days in the week. During Holy Week
there was a great concourse of people from the neighboring villages;
and on Holy Thursday and Friday they had well-ordered processions
with many flagellants, in