if it had
been possible for him to have been at once in ten places, he should not
have wanted for employment." His catechising having had that wonderful
success which we have mentioned, the Bishop Don John d'Albuquerque
ordained, that, from thenceforward, the children should be taught the
Christian doctrine, in all the churches of the town. The gentlemen and
merchants applied themselves to the regulation of their families, and
banishment of vice. They gave the father considerable sums of money,
which he distributed in their presence, in the hospitals and prisons.
The viceroy accompanied the saint thither once a week, to hear the
complaints of the prisoners, and to relieve the poor. This Christian
practice was so pleasing to the king of Portugal, John III, that
afterwards he writ to Don John de Castro, governor of the Indies,
expressly ordering him to do that once a month, which Don Martin Alphonso
de Sosa never failed of doing every week; in short, the Portuguese of Goa
had gained such an habitude of good life, and such an universal change of
manners had obtained amongst them, that they seemed another sort of
people.

This was the state of affairs, when Michael Vaz, vicar general of the
Indies, a man of rare virtue, and wonderful zeal for the propagation of
the faith, gave Xavier to understand, that on the Oriental coast, which
lies extended from Cape Comorin to the Isle of Manar, and is called the
coast of Fishery, there were certain people called Paravas, that is to
say, fishers, who had caused themselves to be baptized some time since,
on occasion of succours which had been given them by the Portuguese
against the Moors, by whom they were cruelly opprest; that these people
had nothing more of Christianity than baptism, and the name, for want of
pastors to instruct them; and that it would be a work well-pleasing in
the sight of God to accomplish their conversion. He concealed not from
him, that the land was barren, and so destitute of the conveniences of
life, that no stranger was willing to settle there; that interest alone
drew the merchants thither, in the season of pearl-fishing, and otherwise
the heats were insupportable.

There could not have been made to Xavier a proposition more according to
his heart's desire. He offered himself, without the least hesitation, to
go and instruct that people; and he did it so much the more freely,
because his presence was no longer so necessary at Goa, where piety was
now gr