lives among the nations west of the Ganges, and in their advanced years
had returned to sunny Italy, to die near the spot where they had played
as little children. But they had met with Prince Seravalle, and when
they heard from him of the wild tribes with whom he had dwelt, and who
knew not God, they considered that it was their duty to go and
instruct them.

Thus did these sincere men, old and broken, with one foot resting on
their tombs, again encounter difficulties and danger, to propagate among
the Indians that religion of love and mercy which they were appointed to
make known.

Their efforts, however, to convert the Shoshones were fruitless. Indian
nature would seem to be a nature apart and distinct. The red men, unless
in suffering or oppression, will not listen to what they call "the
smooth honey words of the pale-faced sages;" and even when they do so,
they argue upon every dogma and point of faith, and remain unconvinced.
The missionaries, therefore, after a time, contented themselves with
practising deeds of charity, with alleviating their sufferings when
able, from their knowledge of medicine and surgery, and by moral
precepts, softening down as much as they could the fierce and
occasionally cruel tempers of this wild untutored race.

Among other advantages which the Shoshones derived from our
missionaries, was the introduction of vaccination. At first it was
received with great distrust, and indeed violently opposed, but the good
sense of the Indians ultimately prevailed: and I do not believe that
there is one of the Soshones born since the settlement was formed who
has not been vaccinated: the process was explained by the Padres Marini
and Polidori to the native medical men, and is now invariably