d the gospel to her, and baptized
her:--she was immediately delivered of her child, and perfectly
recovered. This visible miracle immediately filled that poor cabin with
astonishment and gladness: The whole family threw themselves at the
Father's feet, and asked to be instructed; and, being sufficiently
taught, not one amongst them but received baptism. This news being blown
abroad through all the country, the chief of the place had the curiosity
to see a person so wonderful in his works and in his words. He preached
to them the words of eternal life, and convinced their reason of the
truth of Christianity; but convinced though they were, they durst not, as
they said, become Christians, without the permission of their prince.

There was at that time in the village an officer, sent expressly from the
prince to collect a certain annual tribute. Father Xavier went to see
him, and expounded so clearly to him all the law of Jesus Christ, that
the pagan presently acknowledged there was nothing in it which was ill;
and after that gave leave to the inhabitants to embrace it. There needed
no more to a people, whom nothing but fear withheld from it; they all
offered themselves to be baptized, and promised thenceforth to live in
Christianity.

The holy man, encouraged by so happy a beginning, followed his way with
more cheerfulness, and came to Tutucurin, which is the first town
belonging to the Paravas. He found, in effect, that this people,
excepting only their baptism, which they had received, rather to shake
off the Moorish yoke than to subject themselves to that of Jesus Christ,
were wholly infidels; and he declared to them the mysteries of our faith,
of which before they had not received the least tincture. The two
churchmen who accompanied him served him in the nature of interpreters;
but Xavier, reflecting within himself, that these churchmen frequently
altered those things which passed through their mouths, and that our own
words, when spoken by ourselves, have more vigour in them, bethought
himself of finding some expedient, whereby to be understood without the
assistance of another. The way he took, was to get together some people
of the country, who understood the Portuguese language, and to join them
with the two ecclesiastics who were knowing in the Malabar. He consulted
both parties for many days together, and, drudging at his business,
translated into the Paravas tongue, the words of the sign of the cross,
the apo