Through Five Republics on Horseback | Page 2

of a man on fire with
zeal for the evangelization of the great "Neglected Continent." We are
sure that no one can read this book and be indifferent to the claims of
South America upon the Christian Church of this generation.
To those who desire to learn just what the fruits of Romanism as a
system are, when left to itself and uninfluenced by Protestantism, this
book will prove a real eye-opener. We doubt if any Christian man, after
reading "Through Five Republics on Horseback," will any longer
conclude that Romanism is good enough for Romanists and that
Missions to Roman Catholic countries are an impertinence. We trust
the book will awaken a great interest in the evangelization of the Latin
Republics of South America.
Of course, this volume will have interest for others besides missionary
enthusiasts. Apart from the religious and missionary purpose of the
book, it contains very much in the way of geographical, historical and
scientific information, and that, too, in regard to a field of which as yet
comparatively little is known. The writer has kept an open mind in his
extensive travels, and his record abounds in facts of great scientific
value.
We have known Mr. Ray for several years and delight to bear
testimony to his ability and faithfulness as a preacher and pastor. As a
lecturer on his experiences in South America he is unexcelled. We
commend "Through Five Republics on Horseback" especially to
parents who are anxious to put into the hands of their children inspiring
and character-forming reading. A copy of the book ought to be in every
Sunday School Library.
J. G. Brown.
626 Confederation Life Building, Toronto.

A PRELIMINARY WORD ON SOUTH AMERICA
The Continent of South America was discovered by Spanish navigators
towards the end of the fifteenth century. When the tidings of a new
world beyond the seas reached Europe, Spanish and Portuguese

expeditions vied with each other in exploring its coasts and sailing up
its mighty rivers.
In 1494 the Pope decided that these new lands, which were nearly twice
the size of Europe, should become the possession of the monarchs of
Spain and Portugal. Thus by right of conquest and gift South America
with its seven and a half million miles of territory and its millions of
Indian inhabitants was divided between Spain and Portugal. The
eastern northern half, now called Brazil, became the possession of the
Portuguese crown and the rest of the continent went to the crown of
Spain. South America is 4,600 miles from north to south, and its
greatest breadth from east to west is 3,500 miles. It is a country of
plains and mountains and rivers. The Andean range of mountains is
4,400 miles long. Twelve peaks tower three miles or more above ocean
level, and some reach into the sky for more than four miles. Many of
these are burning mountains; the volcano of Cotopaxi is three miles
higher than Vesuvius. Its rivers are among the longest in the world. The
Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata systems drain an area of 3,686,400
square miles. Its plains are almost boundless and its forests limitless.
There are deserts where no rain ever falls, and there are stretches of
coast line where no day ever passes without rain. It is a country where
all climates can be found. As the northern part of the continent is
equatorial the greatest degree of heat is there experienced, while the
south stretches its length toward the Pole Quito, the capital of Ecuador,
is on the equator, and Punta Arenas, in Chile, is the southernmost town
in the world.
For hundreds of years Spain and Portugal exploited and ruled with an
iron hand their new and vast possessions. Their coffers were enriched
by fabulous sums of gold and treasure, for the wildest dream of riches
indulged in by its discoverers fell infinitely short of the actual reality.
Large numbers of colonists left the Iberian peninsula for the newer and
richer lands. Priests, monks and nuns went in every vessel, and the
Roman Catholicism of the Dark Ages was soon firmly established as
the only religion. The aborigines were compelled to bow before the
crucifix and worship Mary until, in a peculiar sense, South America
became the Pope's favorite parish. For the benefit of any, native or
colonist, who thought that a purer religion should be, at any rate,
permitted, the Inquisition was established at Lima, and later on at

Cartagena, where, Colombian history informs us, 400,000 were
condemned to death. Free thought was soon stamped out when death
became the penalty.
Such was the wild state of the country and the power vested in the
priests that abuses were tolerated which, even in Rome, had not been
dreamed of. The priests, as anxious for spiritual conquest as