CHAPTER IX.

Nuns with similar names—Squaw Nuns—First visit to the Cellar—Description of it —Shocking Discovery there—Superior's Instructions—Private Signal of the Priests —Books used in the Nunnery—Opinions expressed of the Bible—Specimens of what I know of the Scriptures.

I found that I had several namesakes among the nuns, for there were two others who had already bore away my new name, Saint Eustace. This was not a solitary case, for there were five Saint Marys, and three Saint Monros, besides two novices of that name. Of my namesakes I have little to say, for they resembled most of nuns; being so much cut off from intercourse with me and the other sisters, that I never saw any thing in them, nor learnt any thing about them, worth mentioning ✝.

Several of my new companions were squaws, who had taken the veil at different times. They were from some of the Indian settlements in the country, but were not distinguishable by any striking habits of character from other nuns, and were generally not very different in their appearance when in their usual dress, and engaged in their customary occupations. It was evident, that they were treated with much kindness and lenity by the Su-