Having found, from experience, that the fatal period of this disorder amongst the Abipones was not in its rise, but in its progress, I thought proper to yield to the entreaties of both husband and wife, and returned home in the firm determination of soon re-visiting my patient. But, alas! scarce a quarter of an hour had elapsed, when, to my great sorrow, I heard that she had suddenly expired. My grief, however, was consoled by a sort of hope that I entertained of her eternal salvation, founded upon her having been previously fortified by religious virtues, detestation of sin, and a resolution to receive baptism whenever she felt her life in danger; all which, if sincere, enabled me to draw happy presages for her from the boundless compassion of God. Whilst fatigued with continual attendance upon the sick, I was frequently harassed with anxiety respecting the preservation of the colony. Daily reports were spread of the approach of the enemy, and evident marks discovered of their ambuscades, which, however, our vigilance always rendered nugatory. That above all was a memorable day to me, when, at the very time that an assault was hourly expected, a messenger came from the distant horde of the Cacique, announcing that an Abiponian woman, ill of the small-pox, had been two days in dangerous labour. For a little while I hesitated what to do. "Left," thought I, "without a defender, the house and sacred utensils will be seized upon by the enemy; I myself, if I go out into the country, shall perhaps be surprized and murdered by them, and in that case the Abipones will be destitute of all religious aid. Yet if I remain at home, the mother and her offspring will probably perish without baptism." Religious considerations at length induced me to despise the uncertain rumour of a hostile attack, for the sake of averting present and certain danger from the woman and her offspring, and I set off accordingly on foot and unarmed. A herb which, at my advice, was administered to the woman in labour, proved efficacious beyond my hopes, for whilst I was visiting the tents of the sick, she was happily delivered of a living child marked with the small-pox, which I was determined upon baptizing immediately, though the grandmother furiously opposed my design. "What," vociferated she, "will you destroy the infant as soon as it sees the light with those destructive waters?" Finding her clamours of no avail, she ran to the father, a son of Debayakaikin, who was lying in a tent hard by covered with mats, to defend him from the cold, as if _he_ had just been delivered of a child, and implored him to prevent me from accomplishing my intent; but, more sensible than the rest, he replied that the will of the Father must be acquiesced in. Disappointed of the support she had expected from her son-in-law, the old woman was very near assaulting me tooth and nail; but being appeased by my gentle words and expostulations, she recovered her temper, and on my promising that