They look for old artifacts, heavy stones, and brass objects and ecstatically admire the works reminiscent of the ancient civilizations of the Cordillera and beyond/or thereabouts. One day, Fr. Alois decided to play a prank on a tourist who insisted on having authentic artifacts.

As a youth, he had learned the art of working silver and decided to put it to good use. From an old large silver coin, he made a small bracelet on which he engraved some signs at random, well-made. Then, he buried it and waited for a year for the return of fussy tourists.

He presented him with the greenish and soil-be-smattered bracelet. The tourist opened his eyes in amazement and exclaimed: “How wonderful! What refined work! I am certain that the signs do not hark back to the ancient Inca culture, but it must be older, perhaps 3,000–4,000 years old.”

He asked the missionary: “Would you be willing to deprive yourself? How much would you ask for it?” Simulating an indifference that came not from a quiet conscience, Fr. Alois replied: “How much do I want? Give what you wish!” In that way, the fake masterpiece earned the mission a considerable sum of money.