A joyful song I’ll raise;
For, oh, eternity’s too short
To utter all thy praise.”
I had just repeated this companion of my travels, and was beginning to descend to the cottage, when I observed a person coming up, mounted on a very good horse, and leading another still better. I wondered to see him bend his course to the uninhabited mountains at such a late hour, and had the curiosity to wait his approach, to make inquiry. “Pray friend,” said I, “where can you be going this way at so late an hour?”—“I am seeking you,” was the reply.—“Seeking me!” I replied. “Yes,” said he, “I have a letter for you from the Governor of Guaranda.” I received and opened the letter, and read, in the language of friendship, that my good friend, dreading that I should be worsted by the storm, had sent an excellent horse for me, with orders to his servant to travel on until he should find me, at whatever hour it might be, and to see me safe in Riobamba. Whatever might have been my feelings before, they were, at least, now “lost in wonder, love, and praise.” I should have mentioned, also, that the servant delivered me a little basket, which I found to be filled with provisions for our journey, and into which, also, the hand of friendship itself had dropped a few sweet cakes. All these things, under the circumstances in which I found myself, had a powerful effect upon my mind, and encouraged me anew to hope in God and to persevere in his service.
In a few minutes we stepped down to the hut, procured some provisions for the horses, some repast for ourselves, and passed the night as comfortably as we could. Early next morning we began to prepare for our journey. I had given our hostess a rial now and a rial then to give her confidence in my honesty; for there is some distrust in regard to provisions bestowed upon strangers, and it is founded, I believe, on experience. Before setting out, I paid her all her demands, and gave her a little more; upon which she lifted up both her hands, and prayed for a blessing upon me, and thus we parted. After travelling for some time, Chimborazo looked out from the clouds, the first appearance of which, I confess, filled me with a kind of dread, more especially as I thought it frowned upon us again. As we went on, however, the day brightened, and we reached the mountain in due time, and took up our lodging in an uninhabited house on the side of it. During my evening walk the clouds entirely disappeared from the mountain, and it seemed to sit down in beautiful splendour beside me, and thus we became more than reconciled to each other. Next morning the same beautiful appearance was exhibited as we set out on our way to Riobamba.
At mid day we reached this place, which contains about 3000 inhabitants, with a considerable population in the villages around. I called upon the Governor, and presented him a letter of introduction which I had brought from the Governor of Guaranda. In this gentleman I also found a friend, and an encourager of our object. He directed me to the house of a friend, where I have a comfortable lodging. Upon stating to him my object, and showing him the advertisement which I wished to fix up in the public parts of the town, he ordered his clerk to fill up the blanks according to my directions, and then sent one of the Alguazils to put them up. He bought six New Testaments himself, and during the two days of my stay here, I have disposed of 35 copies. To-morrow I set out for Ambato, accompanied by a soldier, which the Governor has ordered to attend me by way of a guide and a guard. Considering the shortness of my stay here, and considering that many more New Testaments would have been bought had time been afforded, I thought it advisable to leave 50 copies in the hands of the Governor, who kindly undertook to dispose of them as circumstances offered. For the same reason I left 50 copies with him to be forwarded by the first opportunity to the Governor of Guaranda. I have also had another object in view in doing so, and that is to convert, as it were, these individuals into members and agents of your Society, the importance of which you will at once see.
I have already noticed to you that the rural inhabitants of the district of Guaranda speak the Indian language only. The same also may be said of all the districts in this quarter, as far as Quito, I formerly stated to you, that in Peru a million of souls stood in need of the translation of the Scriptures into the Quichua language, and you now see how many thousands more may be added to this number. I have no doubt but the importance of the translation in question will lead you to extend your beneficence to the translating and printing of the whole Scriptures into this language. When I find persons, particularly clergymen, with whom I can communicate with confidence, I state to them what has been done in regard to this translation, and the use that may be made of it in instructing the indigenous inhabitants of this quarter, which is by far the most numerous class of the population. To such individuals I mention, also, the happy effects produced by the schools in the Gaelic and Irish languages. I have succeeded in convincing many of the importance and practicability of educating the native population, and am much encouraged by the interest I find taken in this matter, by many persons of name and influence in the places I have visited. In this town, the prior of one of the convents, and the rector of the town, have promised to forward this object as far as lies in their power, and on my part I have promised to forward them some copies of this translation as soon us they are ready.
On the whole, there is great cause for thanksgiving, in seeing the Scriptures meet with so ready a reception in this quarter, and the more so when we consider that this is the first time this treasure has been offered them. Let us pray that the word of God may have free course in this place, and that it may be glorified.
Quito, 8th November, 1824.