of Firando would give him and his two companions a good reception.

They happened upon a fortress on their way, belonging to a prince called
Ekandono, who was vassal to the king of Saxuma. It was situate on the
height of a rock, and defended by ten great bastions. A solid wall
encompassed it, with a wide and deep ditch cut through the middle of the
rock. Nothing but fearful precipices on every side; and the fortress
approachable by one only way, where a guard was placed both day and
night. The inside of it was as pleasing as the outside was full of
horror. A stately palace composed the body of the place, and in that
palace were porticoes, galleries, halls, and chambers, of an admirable
beauty; all was cut in the living stone, and wrought so curiously, that
the works seemed to be cast within a mould, and not cut by the chizzel.

Some people of the castle, who were returning from Cangoxima, and who had
there seen Xavier, invited him, by the way, to come and visit their lord;
not doubting but Ekandono would be glad to see so famous a person.

Xavier, who sought all occasions of publishing the gospel, lost not that
opportunity. The good reception which was made him, gave him the means
of teaching immediately the true religion, and the ways of eternal life.
The attendants of the prince, and soldiers of the garrison, who were
present, were so moved, both by the sanctity which shone in the apostle's
countenance, and by the truth which beamed out in all his words, that,
after the clearing of their doubts, seventeen of them at once demanded
baptism; and the Father christened them in presence of the Tono, (so the
Japonese call the lord or prince of any particular place) The rest of
them were possessed with the same desire, and had received the same
favour, if Ekandono had not opposed it by reason of state, and contrary
to his own inclinations, for fear of some ill consequences from the king
of Saxuma; for in his heart he acknowledged Jesus Christ, and permitted
Xavier privately to baptize his wife and his eldest son. For the rest, he
promised to receive baptism, and to declare himself a Christian, when his
sovereign should be favourable to the law of God.

The steward of Ekandono's household was one who embraced the faith. He
was a man stepped into years, and of great prudence. Xavier committed
the new Christians to his care, and put into his hands the form of
baptism in writing, the exposition of the creed, the epitome of our