I observed that he got on best when he was telling them stories out of the Old Testament, such as the account of the creation of the world and of human beings, also of the Deluge, etc.

Indeed one of their elders said--Yes, this was quite true.

They had heard it all before from their fathers, and that once the Deluge had taken place round Orofena, swallowing up great countries, but sparing them because they were so good.
Bastin, surprised, asked them who had caused the deluge.

They replied, Oro which was the name of their god, Oro who dwelt yonder on the mountain in the lake, and whose representation they worshipped in idols.

He said that God dwelt in Heaven, to which they replied with calm certainty: "No, no, he dwells on the mountain in the lake," which was why they never dared to approach that mountain.
Indeed it was only by giving the name Oro to the Divinity and admitting that He might dwell in the mountain as well as everywhere else, that Bastin was able to make progress.