is not to profit by your conversation, for the amendment of their lives; all they pretend to, is to stop your mouth, and to escape a censure, which they know they have deserved.  Be upon your guard against such people:  yet I am not of opinion, that you should wholly reject them, or altogether despise their courtesy.  If they should invite you to their table, refuse it not; and yet less refuse their presents of small value, such as are usually made in the Indies by the Portuguese to each other, and which one cannot refuse without giving an affront; as, for example, fruits and drinks.  At the same time, declare to them, that you only receive those little gifts, in hope they will also receive your good advice; and that you go to eat with them, only that you may dispose them, by a good confession, to approach the holy table.  For such presents as I have named, such I mean as are not to be refused, when you have received them, send them to the sick, to the prisoners, or to the poor.  The people will be edified with this procedure, and no occasion left of suspecting you, either of niceness or covetousness.

“For what relates to your abode, you will see at your arrival; and having prudently considered the state of things, you may judge where it will be most convenient for you to dwell, either in the hospital, or the house of mercy, or any little lodging, in the neighbourhood.  If I think fit to call you to Japan, you shall immediately give notice of it, by writing to the rector of this college by two or three different conveyances, to the end, he may supply your place with one of our fathers, a man capable of assisting and comforting the city of Ormuz.  In fine, I recommend you to yourself; and that in particular, you never forget, that you are a member of the Society of Jesus.

“In the conjunctures of affairs, experience will best instruct you what will be most for God’s service; for there is no better master than practice, and observation, in matters of prudence.  Remember me always in your prayers; and take care, that they who are under your direction, recommend me in theirs to the common Master whom we serve.  To conclude this long instruction, the last advice I give you, is to read over this paper carefully once a week, that you may never forget any one of the articles contained in it.  May it please the Lord to go along with you, to conduct you in your voyage, and at the same time to continue here with us!”—­

Eight days after Gasper Barzaeus was gone for Ormus, with his companion Raymond Pereyra, Father Xavier went himself for Japan; it was in April 1549.  He embarked in a galley bound no farther than Cochin, where waited for him a ship, which was to go towards Malacca.  He took for companions Father Cozmo de Torrez, and John Fernandez, besides the three Japonese, Paul de Sainte Foy, and his two servants, John and Anthony.