Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/371

LETTER OF ANDRE DE PEROUSE. 359 source, the value of which, in the estimation of some Genoese merchants, may be about a hundred gold florins annually, and the greater part of this has been absorbed in the construction of this residence, which, for magni- ficence and convenience, surpasses the most beautiful hermitages of our province. "A short time after the decease of brother Peregrin, I received an archiepiscopal decree, placing me at the head of this district, and many motives have induced, me to accept this nomination ; nevertheless, I inhabit the church in the town, and that in the forest, alter- nately. My health is good, and I can still labour for some months of the year for the salvation of souls. My hair, however, is white, the effect partly of age, and partly of the fatigue of apostleship. " In this empire there are men of all nations under the sun, and monks of all sects ; and as every one is per- mitted to live in whatever belief he pleases, the opinion , or rather the error, being upheld that each one may effect his salvation in his own religion, we are enabled to preach in perfect liberty and security. Among the Jews and Saracens no conversions have been made ; the idolaters come in great numbers to be baptized, but many of them do not in reality live according to Chris- tianity. Four of our brethren have been martyred in the Indies by the Saracens ; and although one of them was thrown into the middle of a blazing fire without sustaining any injury, this astounding miracle did not change the wicked intentions of the infidels. I have transmitted these details to you, in order that you may communicate them to other fraternities, and I have not addressed any of my spiritual brethren or my personal friends, because I know not whether they are alive or A A 4