In Chapter II, page 18 it says, A small piece of uncultivated ground. Wholly uncultivated, no. In the Cova we grew maize, potatoes, beans, wheat, etc.—whatever was being sown at the time. On the slope which goes up to the spot where we happened to be playing, was the criss-crossed by numerous tracks and furrows, leaving only one path way. On the extreme left on the way up, these tracks were formed by rows of holmoaks, both large and small all growing at random, and which together with the furze bushes formed dense thickets, making it difficult to get through. Taking the pathway on the right side going down, we went towards the large holmoak tree, and thus the small one was well to the left of us.
A little further back, in the same paragraph, it stated 'the second flash rooted us to the spot where we were.' This also is inexact. We saw it when we were half way down the slope which runs from the place of the Apparitions to the top of the hill, just before we reached the big holmoak. We kept on going until we came face to face with Our Lady on the small holmoak.
On the same page 19, it also says 'Amazed, they wished to flee.' This is also incorrect. I think I have already explained this in another account. As soon as we saw Our Lady, we never gave another thought to running away. Our Lady does not cause fear, but only surprise, peace and joy. When we said we had been afraid, we were referring to the fear we felt at the thought of a coming thunder storm, and that was why we wanted to run. I think that when Our Lady told us not to be afraid, she wanted to calm our fears of the thunder storm that we supposed was coming, for we were used to seeing lightening only when there was a storm. In our ignorance, we were as yet unable to distinguish between the flash of light and the lightening.
Chapter II, page 20, says 'Almost the same length as the dress' I think this 'almost' should be eliminated because it was the same length. In the same Chapter II, page 21, it says 'what have you come to do here'? I do not remember asking that question. Chapter III, page 29 states: 'She then confided a secret to them and strictly forbade them to reveal it.' As I have already said above in my account of the Apparitions, in this particular month it was we ourselves who wished to keep the light and its effect secret. It was in the following month that the secret was imposed on us by Our Lady.
In the account of the Apparitions which the writer gives here, there are some small details that it seems to me quite useless to point out, since I have already written everything exactly as it happened. Furthermore, some of these details spring from the manner of expression used by the writer. Chapter V page 45 says 'Crying from fear'. Jacinta wept in prison because she missed her mother and her family, but she did not cry during the interrogation.
Chapter V, page 46 says, 'The boy followed him crying.' He did not cry. Chapter V, page 47 states: 'They went running to the Cova da Iria.' We only went to the Cova da Iria after the Apparition in Valinhos, some days later. Chapter VII, page 60 says 'The dress has gold lines.' It had no lines at all. When Francisco said that, he was perhaps referring to the undulating effect of the light surrounding the dress. Chapter VII Page 64 says 'Small earrings.' I didn't see any earrings. I remember a golden cord which like a brilliant sunbeam, seemed to border her mantle. It was reflected in the space left by the mantle as it fell from the head to the shoulders, shimmering in the light which enveloped Our Lady's whole person in undulating variations, which momentarily gave the impression of small earrings. I must have been referring to this when I gave that reply.
Chapter VII page 66, give these words, 'Could you not at least tell it to your confessor? She seemed somewhat puzzled and remained silent.' I was perplexed and did not know how to reply, because I kept several things secret which I was not forbidden to reveal. But I thank God who inspired my questioner to go on with the interrogation. I remember how I breathed again.
Chapter VII page 73 says, 'Is this how you fulfill the order that Our Lady gave you?' I kept silence, not wishing to put the blame on my mother, who at that time had not yet allowed me to go to school. At home, they said it was out of vanity that I wanted to learn to read. Until then, hardly any girls learned to read. The school was just for boys. It was only later that a school was opened in Fatima for girls.