Father Xavier having, for the space of a month, instructed the
inhabitants of one village, in the manner above said, before he went
farther, called together the most intelligent amongst them, and gave them
in writing what he had taught, to the end, that as masters of the rest,
on Sundays and Saints-days, they might congregate the people, and cause
them to repeat, according to his method, that which they had learnt
formerly.

He committed to these catechists, (who in their own tongue are called
Canacopoles,) the care of the churches, which he caused to be built in
peopled places; and recommended to them the ornament of those sacred
buildings, as far as their poverty would allow. But he was not willing to
impose this task on them, without some kind of salary; and therefore
obtained from the viceroy of the Indies, a certain sum for their
subsistence, which was charged upon the annual tribute, payable to the
crown of Portugal, from the inhabitants of that coast.

It is hardly to be expressed, what a harvest of souls was reaped from his
endeavours; and how great was the fervour of these new Christians. The
holy man, writing to the fathers at Rome, confesses himself, that he
wanted words to tell it. He adds, "That the multitude of those who had
received baptism, was so vast, that, with the labour of continual
christenings, he was not able to lift up his arms; and that his voice
often failed him, in saying so many times over and over, the apostles'
creed, and the ten commandments, with a short instruction, which he
always made concerning the duties of a true Christian, before he baptized
those who were of age."

The infants alone, who died after baptism, amounted, according to his