The apostle went from Goa on holy Thursday, which fell that year, 1552, on the 14th of April.  The sea was calm enough, till they came to the height of the islands of Nicubar, which are somewhat above Sumatra, towards the north.  Thereabouts the waves began to swell; and presently after, there arose so furious a tempest, that there scarcely remained any hopes of safety.  That which doubled their apprehension, was, that two foists, which bore them company, unable to sustain the fury of the waves, sunk both by one another.  The ship, which carried Xavier and his companions, was a royal vessel, very large and deep laden, so that her unwieldy bulk and heavy freight hindered her sailing and her steering.  It was thought necessary to ease her, and the merchandizes were ready to be cast overboard, when Father Francis desired the captain not to be too hasty.  But the sailors saying, that the tempest increasing, as usually it does towards evening, the vessel could not so conveniently be disburdened in the dark, he bid them not disturb themselves about it, for the storm should cease, and they should make land before sun-set.  The captain, who knew how certain the predictions of Xavier were, made not the least scruple of believing him, and the event verified the prophecy.  The sea grew calm, and land appeared before the setting of the sun.

But while every one was rejoicing at the nearness of the 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