beloved Son whatsoever she requests. In conclusion, having reposed all my
hope in the infinite merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, being
encompassed with this protection, I enjoyed a greater satisfaction, in
the midst of this raging tempest, than when I was wholly delivered from
the danger.

"In very truth, being, as I am, the worst of all men, I am ashamed to
have shed so many tears of joy, through an excess of heavenly pleasure,
when I was just upon the point of perishing: insomuch, that I humbly
prayed our Lord, that he would not free me from the danger of my
shipwreck, unless it were to reserve me for greater dangers, to his own
glory and his service. For what remains, God has often shewn me, by an
inward discovery, from how many perils and sufferings I have been
delivered, by the prayers and sacrifices of those of the society, both
such as labour here on earth, and such who enjoy the fruits of their
labours in the heavens. When I have once begun the mention of our
society, I can never leave; but the departure of the vessels constrains
me to break off: and behold what I have judged most proper for the
conclusion of my letter. If I ever forget thee, O Society of Jesus, let
my right hand be unprofitable to me, and may I even forget the use of it!
_Si oblitus unquam fuero tui, Societas Jesu, oblivioni detur dextera
meu_. I pray our Lord Jesus Christ, that since, during the course of this
miserable life, he has gathered us into his society, he would reunite us
in a blessed eternity, in the company of saints, who behold him in his
glory."

After he had written these letters, and given some time to the service of
his neighbour, he took the way of Comorine, doubled the Cape a second
time, and arrived at the coast of Fishery. The Paravas, who were his
first children in Jesus Christ, were overjoyed at the sight of their
saint, and good Father, as they called him. All the villages came to meet
him, singing the Christian doctrine, and praising God for his return. The
satisfaction of the saint was not less than theirs: but above all things
his consolation was unspeakable to see the number of Christians so much
augmented, by the labours of his brethren. There were in that place many
of the society, of whom the chief were Antonio Criminal, Francis
Henriquez, and Alphonso Cyprian; for Father Xavier having written from
Amboyna for the greatest number of missioners whom they could spare,
towards the cultivation of those n