_ 217 _ amongst the Christian Inhabitants, and wonderful was the rejoicing amongst our men. For in the island there are about 40,000 circumcised souls; and yet for the most part they have been living like Jews, since for a long time they have lacked true Christians to instruct them and uphold them in the true faith. Most of them have been baptised by our priests and by the devout of upright life, whom from year to year we send there in addition, and we are certain that all the rest will follow. And although in India many of our Indians are likewise baptised, there is particular joy in the islanders’ liberation on account of the daughters returned to their parents by our men; daughters whom, as captives, the Saracens have subjected to every form of abuse. Most Holy Father, they have churches, to which they go to pray in the mornings, in the evening and at the end of the day. They have a cross, which the priests protect by carrying around for security; in case anything should happen to it, they do not dare to wander about the island. They also have our feasts, especially Lent and Advent, and some others in which they not only abstain from meat, as we do, but from fish as well. They pay tithes, which their priests use for the fabric of the churches and also distribute amongst the poor. If anyone assaults one of their priests,
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