ith him from the Indies, and whom
he sent back from Sancian with the Portuguese vessels.

Amongst those merchants who went off from Sancian, there was one who made
more haste than any of the rest; without giving notice of his departure
to the Father, whom he had lodged in his cabin, or without waiting for a
Chinese vessel, which he had bought at the port of Canton. One morning
while the Father was saying mass very early, this merchant had put off
from shore, and fled with as much precipitation as if the island was
ready to be swallowed by the sea. After mass was ended, he looked round
him, and not seeing him for whom he searched, "What is become of my
host?" said he, with the looks and gesture of a man inspired. Being
answered, that he was already in open sea; "What could urge him,"
continued he, "to so prompt a resolution? why did he not expect the ship
which comes from Canton? And whither is he dragged by his unhappy
destiny?" That very evening the Chinese vessel was seen to arrive: as for
the fugitive merchant, he was no sooner landed at Malacca, when, going
into a wood to seek materials for the refitting of his ship, he was
poniarded by robbers.

All the Portuguese vessels being gone, saving only that which belonged to
the governor of Malacca, or rather of which the governor had possessed
himself by violence, Xavier was reduced to so great a want of all
necessaries, that he had scarcely wherewithal to sustain nature. It is
certainly a matter of amazement, that they, whose lives he had preserved
by changing the salt sea-water into fresh; should be so hard-hearted as
to abandon him to die of hunger. Some have thought that Don Alvarez
had given orders, that all things should be refused him; but I rather
think, that Providence would try him in the same manner, as sometimes God
is pleased to prove those whom he loves the best, and permitted that
dereliction of him for the entire perfection of the saint.

That which most afflicted him, was, that the Chinese interpreter, who had
made him such advantageous offers, recalled his word, either of himself
for fear of danger, or at the solicitation of those who were devoted to
the governor of Malacca. Yet the Father did not lose his courage; he
still hoped that God would assist him some other way; and that, at the
worst, Antonio de Sainte Foy might serve his turn for an interpreter. But
for the last load of his misfortunes, the merchant, who had engaged to
land him on the coast