conversations which Xavier had with Pereyra during all the
navigation, were almost wholly relating to Japan and China. The Father
told his friend what progress the faith had made in little time in the
kingdoms of Saxuma, of Amanguchi, and of Bungo; and what hopes he had
conceived, to convert all those islands with great ease, when once the
Chinese should be brought to acknowledge Jesus Christ. And on that
motive, he had fixed his resolution to go to China; that his return to
the Indies was only in order to this intended voyage, after he had
regulated the affairs of the Society at Goa; that, on this account, he
had brought with him from Japan the translation of his catechism into the
Chinese language, by the benefit of which he hoped to overcome the first
difficulties, which in matters of conversion are still the greatest. Some
Portuguese who were in the same vessel, and were well acquainted with the
government of China, thought this proposition of the Father not a little
extravagant. They told him, that, besides the ill understanding which was
betwixt China and Portugal, it was forbidden to strangers on pain of
death, or of perpetual imprisonment, to set a foot upon that kingdom; and
that the merchants of their nation, who had stolen thither for the
benefit of trade, having been discovered, some of them had lost their
heads, others had been put in irons, and cast into dungeons, there to lie
and rot for the remainder of their lives. They added, notwithstanding,
that there was a safe and certain way of entering into China, provided
there was a solemn embassy sent to the emperor of that country from
the king of Portugal. But since that could not be compassed without a
prodigious expence, if nothing else were to be considered but only the
presents for the emperor and his ministers of state, in all probability
the viceroy of the Indies would not burden himself with the cost of such
an enterprize, at a time when he had enough to do to defray more
necessary expences.

These difficulties began to startle Father Xavier, when James Pereyra,
who, under the habit of a merchant, had the heart of an emperor, and the
zeal of an apostle, made offer of his ship, and all his goods, for the
promoting of the expedient which had been mentioned. The Father accepted
of his generous proffer with transports of joy, and engaged, on his side,
to procure the embassy of China for his friend. Pereyra, who had received
intelligence of the siege of Mal