their ministry to souls; and the results of their work
thus correspond to their fervor. But, of all the means that they
have employed, we must attribute their good fortune in winning souls
to their exposing the most blessed sacrament in our churches, thus
stimulating the devotion and respect with which it should be regarded;
celebrating with solemn processions the feast of Corpus [Christi];
and inviting the faithful to the table and feast of heaven. As a
result of these measures, the people were so fond of holy communion,
and so greatly enjoyed receiving it, that on some feast-days the
crowd was as great as in cities of Europe; and with so thorough
preparation, by fasting, discipline, prayer, fervor, and confession,
that it seemed to be a primitive church. Thus their esteem for our
holy faith is so increased that few are those who do not ask for or
desire baptism. Indeed, there are so many who seek it that during
the two weeks of advent and Easter in 1601 more than seven hundred
persons were baptized; and from the Easter of the previous year, 1600,
there were counted in this mission-field more than two thousand and
twenty persons baptized--and all this with great fervor, eagerness,
and esteem for the new law which they profess with holy baptism.

The residence of Dulac has in its care, among many others, the two
large villages called Dagami and San Salvador (which is Paloc), both
populous; their people are well instructed and submissive, and our
fathers have labored among them with great success. Father Melchior
Hurtado writes that in San Salvador, during the celebration of the
Christmas feast, almost eight hundred infidels were baptized, and
that the confessions and communions were such as might be expected in
Espana--so many, that the fathers could not attend to them all. This
is occasion for much glory to our Lord, especially in a land so new,
which the Society had entered but six years before to instruct its
people, and had found them so obdurate, as I have already stated. From
the letters of this father, and from others of Father Juan de Torres
and Father Francisco Vicente, some special incidents have been drawn,
which I shall here relate.

A father, passing through a little village belonging to that residence
and inquiring who were Christians, was told of an old man who lived
out in the country, alone in his little hut, and remained there
unable to walk. The father gave orders that this man be brought to
his pr