How, when a chief near the town of Anzerma wished to become a Christian, he saw the devils visibly, who wished to deter him from his good intention by their terrors.

IN the last chapter I related how an Indian of the village of Lampa was converted to Christianity. I will here tell another strange story, that the faithful may glorify the name of God who is so merciful to us, and that the wicked and incredulous may acknowledge the works of the Lord. When the Adelantado Belalcazar was governor of the province of Popayan, and when Gomez Hernandez was his lieutenant in the town of Anzerma, there was a chief in a village called Pirsa, almost four leagues from the town, whose brother, a good-looking youth, named Tamaraqunga, inspired by God, wished to go to the town of the Christians, to receive baptism. But the devils did not wish that he should attain his desire, fearing to lose what seemed secure, so they frightened this Tamaraqunga in such sort that he was unable to do anything. God permitting it, the devils stationed themselves in a place where the chief alone could see them, in the shape of birds called Auras.[540] Finding himself so persecuted by the devils, he sent in great haste to a Christian living near, who came at once, and, hearing what he wanted, signed him with the sign of the cross. But the devils then frightened him more than ever, appearing in hideous forms which were only visible to him. The Christian only saw stones falling from the air, and heard whistling. A brother of one Juan Pacheco, citizen of the same town, then holding office in the place of Gomez Hernandez, who had gone to Caramanta, came from Anzerma with another man, to visit the Indian chief. They say that Tamaraqunga was much frightened and ill-treated by the devils, who carried him through the air from one place to another, in presence of the Christians, he complaining, and the devils whistling and shouting.[541] Sometimes, when the chief was sitting with a glass of liquor before him, the Christians saw the glass raised up in the air and put down empty, and a short time afterwards the wine was again poured into the cup from the air. The chief covered his face with his cloak, that he might not see the horrible visions before him. Then, without having moved the cloak from his face, the devils forced clay into his mouth, as if they wished to choke him. At last the Christians resolved to take the chief to the town, that he might be baptised at once, and more than two hundred Indians came with him, but they were so frightened by the devils, that they would not come near the chief. Thus, journeying with the Christians, they came to a bad part of the road, where the devils took the chief into the air, to dash him against the rocks. He cried out to the Christians for help, who presently took hold of him, but the Indians did not dare to speak, much more to offer any assistance. So cruelly was he persecuted by the devils, all for the good of his soul, and for the greater confusion of this our cruel enemy.

The two Christians saw that God would not be served if the Indian was left to these devils, so they fastened some cords round his waist, and, calling upon God for help, they went on with the Indian between them, and with crosses in their hands, and reached a hill; but still with great difficulty. As they were now near the town, they sent a messenger to Juan Pacheco for assistance. Presently the devils began to throw stones about in the air, and in this way they reached the town, and went straight to the house of this Juan Pacheco, where all the Christians in the village assembled. The devils then began throwing small stones on the top of the house, and whistling; and as the Indians, when they go to war, cry out Hu! Hu! Hu! so the devils also made these noises in very loud voices. Every body then began to pray to our Lord that, for his glory and for the salvation of the Indian’s soul, the devils might not be allowed to have their own way; for these devils, according to the words heard by the chief, cried out that he must not become a Christian. While many stones were flying about, the people came out to go to church, and some Christians heard noises within, before the doors were opened. The Indian Tamaraqunga, on going into the church, saw the devils looking very fierce, with their heads beneath, and feet in the air. A friar named Fray Juan de Santa Maria, of the order of our lady of mercy, then came in to baptise the chief, upon which the devils, in presence of all the Christians, but without being seen by any one but the chief, took him up in the air; putting his head below and his feet above, as they were themselves. The Christians cried out in a loud voice, “Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, be with us!” made the sign of the cross, and taking hold of him, wetted him with holy water; but still the whistling and other noises continued inside the church. Tamaraqunga saw the devils visibly, and they gave him such buffets, that a hat, which he held before his eyes so as not to see them, was hurled to a distance. They also spat in his face. All this happened during the night, and in the morning the friar dressed, to say mass. As soon as he began, the noises ceased, and the chief received no more evil treatment from the devils. When the most holy mass was concluded, Tamaraqunga asked for the water of baptism, together with his wife and son. After he was baptised he said that he was now a Christian and might be left to walk alone, to see if the devils stll had any power over him. So the Christians let him go, while they all prayed to our Lord that, for the exaltation of his holy faith, and that the Indians might be converted, he would not permit the devils to have any further power over the chief, now that he was a Christian. Then Tamaraqunga went out with great joy, saying “I am a Christian,” and praising God in his own language. He went round the church two or three times, and neither felt nor heard anything from the devils, so he went to his house full of joy and contentment. This event was so famous among the Indians, that many became Christians. It happened in the year 1549.