CHAP. XVI. Of the Baptizing of Children of the Wild Inhabitants.
THough I have said much of the Idolatry and Superstitious Worship of the people, that live farthest North, and how there is hope, that when they shall hear the true Gospel preached, they will make hast to joyn them∣selves to the Congregation of faithful Christians: yet the pious perswasi∣on of the Catholick Priests, hath already induced many of these wild people to come in; and there is greater possibility, that henceforth all Errours being laid aside elsewhere, they will come with one consent. But the reason why they seem to delay is very evident, they living above two hundred Italian miles from the Churches of the Christians: to which, because of that vast distance, they can seldome come: yet such as have yielded to the Christian form, are found to be most obedient; for though the distance be so great, yet once or twice a year they visit their Churches where they were baptized, and they bring their sucking Children in Baskets, bound on their backs, and other Burdens, and Gifts of Skins, especially costly Skins, to pay to the Priests for their Tithes.
But this discommodity of distance is lamentable, not onely of the Bothnii, that dwell toward the North, but also of the Vermii Westward, for it hinders their conversion to the Faith.