it, and those who do not know it may learn it. Every night an Indian
goes forth with a little bell, warning all to prepare for death and
to repent for their sins, and enjoining the Christians to pray to
God in behalf of those who are not, that they may know God. While
he is uttering this message, perfect silence reigns, for they call
this "the warning of God;" and, in truth, it has been so effective
that there is not an Indian who does not reflect on death and desire
baptism. Before Lent some sermons were preached to them on confession,
and they were taught that they must not conceal their sins; to enforce
this, a very appropriate instance was cited, which had such an effect
upon them that many persons, though they had left the church very
late that night, returned the next morning to make another confession.

Although idolatry was formerly very common among these pagans, who
practiced it on every trivial occasion, our Lord has been pleased so
to diminish it that hardly anything is now known of it. Two children,
whose mother was sick, took three fowls for the purpose of making a
sacrifice to the demon. While on the way to the house of the priestess
(who in that country is usually old, and belongs to a mean class), one
of the children said to the other: "Whither are we going, and what are
we doing--we who are Christians and know that God sees us? Let us give
up this purpose." With this they abandoned their projected sacrifice,
and returning to their home, set the fowls at liberty. The practice
of disciplining on Fridays was begun, and was taken up by all the
children and the adults of the village. On the first night when they
assembled for this purpose, the father made known to them the spirit
in which it should be done, and so profoundly impressed them that
they soon named Friday (which is the usual day for the discipline)
"the day of atonement for sins."