This miracle so 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 the ship:  Xavier took the occasion, and preached the gospel to them; withal, instructing them in the holy practices of Christianity.  He had no sooner ended his exhortation, than they acknowledged Jesus Christ, and received baptism.