S80 STATE OF CHRISTIANITY dinary and natural course of human society to pro^- ceed without interruption, to ensure a tranquil and certain success. The feeble efforts made to propagate Christianity by insulated and unprotected missionaries, have prov- ed, and must always prove, either injurious or nuga- tory. * The Christian religion, in the countries of the Archipelago, and in those around it, is justly unpopular, because, in every instance, it has either been the instrument of political intrigue, or been propagated by violence, when the consequence of its introduction has been the inevitable loss of the most valuable political and civil rights. The na- tives now view it, therefore, as the badge of sla- very, and every where resist its introduction. It is the religion of the people only, where the people are weak enough, and the territory li-
- As to the converts these people (the Catholic Mission-
aries) have made, I have been credibly informed that they are chiefly of the very poor people, and that, in scarce times, their alms of rice have converted more than their preaching ; and as to those also who have been converted^ as they call if, that is, to beads and new images, and belief in the Pope, they have fallen off again, as rice grew plentiful, and would no longer be Christians than vhile the priests administered food to them. Yet I cannot think but that these people, who h^ve such notions of a Supreme Deity, might, by the industry and example of good men, be brought to embrace the Christiau faith. — Dampier, Vol. II. p. 96,
