Another ship, which was waiting also for a wind, set out in their
company; but that vessel found afterwards to her cost, that she carried
not the apostle of the Indies.

Before they put to sea, Xavier discoursing with the pilot concerning the
dangers of the ocean, (it was the same pilot who had brought him from
Japan, whose name was Francis D'Aghiar,) foretold him, that he should not
end his days upon the water; and that no vessel wherein he should be
should suffer shipwreck, were the tempest never so outrageous. D'Aghiar
was possessed with so firm a belief of what the Father told him, and
afterwards found the effect of it so manifest on various occasions, that,
without observing either winds or seasons, he often put to sea in an old
crazy vessel, ill provided; insomuch, that they who were ignorant of the
secret cause of this his confidence, took him for a rash presuming man,
and of little understanding in sea affairs.

Once, amongst many other times, he gave a demonstration how much he
relied on the promise of the saint, and that was, in going from
Tenasserim to the kingdom of Pegu, in a light barque, which was quite
decayed, and out of order. A tempest rising in the midst of his voyage,
dashed against the rocks, and split in pieces some great vessels, which
were following the barque of D'Aghiar. She alone seemed to defy the
rocks; and while the sea was in this horrible confusion, the pilot sat
singing at his ease, as if the waters had been hushed beneath him. A
passenger, who shook with fear, demanded of him, "With what courage he
could sing, when he was just upon the brink of death?" "It is because I
fear nothing," replied Aghiar: "And I should fear nothing," added he,
"though the waves should mount as high again as now we see them, and my
barque were also made of glass; for the Father Master Francis has assured
me, that I should not die upon the seas, in whatsoever vessel I should
go." Some Saracens who were in the barque, and who heard these sayings of
the pilot, were so moved with this continued miracle, that they vowed
to become Christians so soon as ever they should come on shore; and they
complied religiously with their promise. The barque casting anchor at
Tanar, they received baptism at that place; so much the more persuaded
both of the truth of the miracle, and of the Christian faith, because
they saw before their eyes, upon the coast, the wrecks of other vessels,
which were floating round about it.

The