port, the holy
man had sadness in his countenance, and often sighed. Some of them
enquired the cause, and he bade them pray to God for the city of Malacca,
which was visited with an epidemical disease. Xavier said true; for the
sickness was so general, and so contagious, that it seemed the beginning
of a pestilence. Malignant fevers raged about the town, which carried off
the strongest constitutions in a little space, and the infection was
caught almost at sight. In this condition the ship found Malacca; and
never was the sight of the holy man more pleasing to the inhabitants.
Every one promised himself ease of body, and consolation of mind from
him; and they were not deceived in their expectation.

So soon as he was set on shore, he went in search of the sick, and found
employment enough amongst them for the exercise of his charity. Not a man
of them, but desired to confess to Father Francis, and to expire in his
arms; according to the popular opinion, that whoever died in that manner,
could not fail of being saved. He ran from street to street with his
companions, to gather up the poor, who lay languishing on the ground for
want of succour. He carried them to the hospitals, and to the college of
the Society, which on this occasion he changed into an hospital. And when
both the college and the hospitals were full, he ordered cabins to be
built along the shore, out of the remainders of rotten vessels, for
lodgings, and necessary uses of those distressed creatures. After which
he procured them food and medicines, which he begged from the devouter
sort, and himself attended them both day and night. That which appeared
most wonderful, was, that though the sick could not be served, nor the
dying assisted, nor the dead buried, without taking the infection, and it
was death to take it, yet Xavier and his companions enjoyed their perfect
health in the midst of such dangerous employments. This indeed was
wonderful, but there was also an undoubted miracle, which it pleased
Almighty God to work by the ministry of his servant, on a young man, whom
at that time he restored to life.

This young man, named Francis Ciavus, the only son of a devout woman, who
had long been under the conduct of Xavier, having put into his mouth,
without thinking of it, a poisoned arrow, such as are used in those
eastern parts, died suddenly, so subtile and so mortal was the venom.
They were already burying him, when Xavier came by chance that way. He