struck some Saracen Arabs, who were transporting their
whole families into China, that, throwing themselves at the feet of the
holy man, they acknowledged the God of the Christians, and desired
baptism. The faithful, on their side, admired Father Francis; and all of
them, in a body, owned the preservation of their lives to him. But the
Father told them, that it was to God, and not to such a sinner as he was,
that they were obliged to pay their thanks. The greatest part of the
mariners and passengers kept, out of devotion, some of this water, at the
first as a testimony of the miracle, afterwards as a celestial remedy:
for the water, being carried to the Indies, cured great numbers of sick
people; and infusing some small quantity of it into any sort of drink,
was sufficient to restore their health.

During the navigation, a child of five years old happened to fall into
the sea; the vessel, which had a fore-wind, pursuing its course. The
father of this child was not to be comforted, and his grief so
overwhelmed him, that he kept in private for three days. He was a
Mahometan, and the miracle of the water had not converted him. At length
he appeared in public, but all in tears, and never ceasing to lament the
loss of his only son. Xavier, who knew nothing of this misfortune, asked
him the reason of his sorrow? Having learnt it, he stood recollected in
himself a little time, and then said, "Supposing that God should restore
your son to you, would you promise me to believe in Jesus Christ, and to
become a sincere Christian?" The infidel promised him; and three days
after this, before sun-rising, they saw the child upon the hatches. The
child knew not what had become of him for those six days, and only
remembered his falling into the sea, not being able to give any account
how he returned into the ship. His father was ready to die with joy when
he received him; and Xavier had no need of putting him in mind of his
engagement: he came of his own accord, accompanied by his wife, his son,
and his servant; all of them were baptized, and the child was named
Francis.

Those of the vessel having been witnesses of these two miracles, spoke of
them to the inhabitants of an isle called Cincheo, by which they passed,
and which was a place of great traffic, full of merchants from several
parts. The desire of seeing so admirable a man, caused about sixty
persons, some Ethiopians, other Indians, all Idolaters or Mahometans,
to come into th