baptism. This sight greatly affected many Spaniards who were present,
as well as the Indians who beheld this great change in their chief
(whom they greatly respected), and they were all moved to tears. This
emotion was increased by the action of the superior, Father Valerio
de Ledesma, who, having remained among the others to hear the sermon,
arose, while the audience were overcome by such emotion and wonder,
drew forth a crucifix, and, holding it in his hands, showed the great
obligations which we are under to that Lord who gave up his life
for our deliverance. By this means he enkindled even more the fire,
and aroused the force of heroic determination for right in Elian,
who at last approached the holy crucifix and kissed its feet with
profound reverence; and after him Osol and others performed the same
pious act. Thereupon Elian, desirous that he might not lose time
in a matter which so deeply concerned him, publicly announced that
anyone whom he owed, or to whom he might be under any obligation,
might come to him and be paid therefor. He divorced all but one of
his wives, and returning to each one the gold that was due for her
dowry, sent them all back to their homes. He himself remained in
our house to learn the prayers and catechism, in order to receive
baptism sooner. This conversion was a great help to the others, who
followed his example, saying: "If the father of us all is becoming a
Christian, what else is left for us to do?" A few days after that,
our fathers, having found this method and plan of converting these
peoples successful, gained another chief, from a different district,
by practically the same measures. The conversion of this chief,
and the condition of the Christian community there, are told by
Father Valerio de Ledesma in a clause of one of his letters, thus:
"Thanks to God, all the river is now seeking baptism, and one may
hear nothing else but the chanting of the doctrine throughout the
village and in the houses, whether the people labor, or row, or walk