Xavier, and his companions, embarked on the twenty-fourth of June, in the dusk of the evening; and set sail the next morning, at break of day, with a favourable wind.  When they were out at sea, the captain and ship’s crew, who were all idolaters, set up a pagod on the poop; sacrificed to it in spite of Xavier, and all his remonstrances to the contrary; and consulted him by magical ceremonies, concerning the success of their voyage.  The answers were sometimes good, and sometimes ill:  in the meantime they cast anchor at an isle, and there furnished themselves with timber, against the furious gusts of those uncertain seas.  At the same time they renewed their interrogatories to their idol; and cast lots, to know whether they should have good winds.  The lots promised them a good passage, whereupon the Pagans pursued their course merrily.  But they were no sooner got out to sea again, when they drew lots the third time, to know, whether the junk should return safely from Japan to Malacca.  The answer was, that they should arrive happily at Japan, but were never more to see Malacca.  The pirate, who was extremely superstitious, resolved at the same instant to change his course; and in effect tacked about, and passed his time in going to every isle which was in view.  Father Xavier was sensibly displeased, that the devil should be master of their destiny, and that all things should be ordered, according to the answers of the enemy of God and man.

In cruising thus leisurely, they made the coast of Cochin China; and the tempests, which rose at the same time, threatened them more than once with shipwreck.  The idolaters had recourse to their ordinary superstitions.  The lot declared, that the wind should fall, and that there was no danger.  But an impetuous gust so raised the waves, that the mariners were forced to lower their sails, and cast anchor.  The shog of the vessel threw a young Chinese (whom Xavier had christened, and carried along with him) into the sink, which was then open.  They drew him out half dead, much bruised, and hurt in the head very dangerously.  While they were dressing him, the captain’s daughter fell into the sea, and was swallowed by the waves, notwithstanding all they could do to save her.

This dismal accident drove Neceda to despair; “and it was a lamentable sight,” says Xavier himself, in one of his letters, “to behold the disorder in the vessel.  The loss of the daughter, and the fear of shipwreck, filled all with tears, and howlings, and confusion.”

Nevertheless, the idolaters, instead of acknowledging that their idol had deceived them with a lie, took pains to appease him, as if the death of the Chinese woman had been an effect of their god’s displeasure.  They sacrificed birds to him, and burnt incense in honour of him; after which they cast lots again to know the cause of this disaster which had befallen them.  They were answered, “That if the young Christian, who had fell into the sink, had died, the