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C H I A P A

fast for a long time together : they consequently
cat frequently ; the common food on these occa-
sions being cJmcolatc, and which is even handed
to them whilst at church. This irreverence the
bishop very properly proclaimed against ; but it
is said that this execution of his duty cost him no
less than his life. It is 100 leagues distant from
Guatemala. Lat. 17'^ 4'. Long. 93° 53'.

CHIAPA, another city in the same province,
which, to distinguish it from the former, is called
Cliiapa de los Indios; these (the Indians) being,
for the most part, its inhabitants ; is the largest
settlement in the whole province, and is situate in
a valley close upon the river Tabasco, being 12
leagues distant from the former city. It has va-
rious churches, abounds in wealth, and is the place
wherein the Indian families first settled. They
enjoy many privileges and exemptions, owing to
the zeal of the bishop, J^rtr/y Bartolorae de las Ca-
sas, their procurator at court. The river abounds
greatly in fine fish ; and is full of barks, with
which the}" occasionally represent sea-fights. In
the city also there are commonly balls, plays, con-
certs, bull-fights, and spectacles of horsemanship ;
since the inhabitants are much given to diversions,
and in these grudge no expence.

Bishops of Chiapa.

1. Don Fray Juan de Arteaga y Avendano, na-
tive of Estepa in Andalucia ; elected in 1541 : he
died in the same year in Mexico, before he arrived
at his church.

2. Don Fray Bartolome de las Casas, a man
renowned lor his zeal in favour of the Indians ; he
was born at Seville, where he studied, and passed
over to the island of St. Domingo, where he said
the first mass ever celebrated in that part of the
world. He returned to Spain, in 1515, to declaim
against the tyrannies which were practised against
the Indians. He went back the following year to
jNueva Espana, where he took the habit of a monk
of St. Dominic ; and returning a second time to
Spain, he was presented by the Emperor to the
bishopric of Chiapa, which office he did not ac-
cept ; blit was afterwards prevailed upon to do so
by the united entreaties of the whole of his order ;
he therefore entered upon it in 1544. He then left
the bishopric, and returned, for the third time, to
Spain ; and having retired to his convent of Val-
ladolid, died in 1550.

3. Don Fray Tomas Casillas, also of the order
of St. Dominic ; he was sub-prior of the convent
of Salamanca, and passed over to America with
Fray Bartolome de las Casas. Being renowned
for the great zeal which he manifested in tlie con-
version of the infidel Indians, he was nominated

to be bishop in 1560 ; which office he accepted at
the express command of its general. He made the
visitation of all his bishopric, and died full of vir-
tues, in 1567.

4. Don Fray Domingo de Lara, of the order of
St. Domingo ; he made so strong a refusal of his
election, his renunciation of the office not having
been admitted, that he prayed to God that he
might die before that the bulls should arrive from
Rome; and this was actually the case, since he
departed this life in 1572, before he was conse-
crated.

5. Don Fray Alonzo de Noroila, who governed
the church here seven years, and had for suc-
cessor,

6. Don Fray Pedro de Feria, native of the town
of this name in Estreraadura, a monk of the order
of St. Dominic; he passed over to America, was
prior of the convent of Mexico, and provincial of
that province ; he returned to Spain, refused the
general visitation to which he was appointed, and
retiree! to his convent of Salamanca ; was presented
with the bishopric of Chiapa, which he also re-
fused ; but being commanded by his superiors, he
afterwards accepted it, and governed 14 years,
until 1588, when he died.

7. Don Fray Andres de Ubilla, of the order of St.
Dominic, and native of the province of Guipuzcoa ;
he took the habit in Mexico, where he studied and
read the arls, and was twice prior and provincial
of the province ; he came to Spain on affairs
touching his religion, and returning to Mexico,
found himself presented to this bishopric in 1592,
where he governed until 1601, when he died, hav-
ing been first promoted to the archbishopric of
Mechoacan.

8. Don Lucas Duran, a friar of the order of
Santiago, chaplain of honour to his Majesty ; who
immediately tiiat he was consecrated bishop of
Chiapa, renounced his power, and the see was then
vacant nine years.

9. Don Fray Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza, na-
tive of Toledo, a monk of the order of St. Augus-
tin ; he passed over to America, was made bishop
of Lipari, and titular in the archbishopric of
Toledo ; and lastly of Chiapa, in 1607 ; from
whence he was promoted in the following year to
Popayan.

10. Don Tomas Blanes, native of Valen-
cia, of the order of St. Dominic ; he passed over
to Peru, where he resided many years, studying
arts and theology ; he assisted in the visitation of
the province of St. Domingo, and having come to
Spain, he was presented to the bishopric in 1609,
holding the government until 1612, when he died.