Being informed, that one who was lately baptized, committed idolatry sometimes in private, and that the admonitions which he had received were useless, he bethought himself to frighten him; and in his presence commanded the children to set fire to his house, that thereby he might be given to understand, how the worshippers of devils deserved eternal burning like the devils.  They ran immediately to their task, taking the command in a literal sense, which was not Xavier’s intention.  But the effect of it was, that the infidel, detesting and renouncing his idolatry, gave up his pagods to be consumed by fire, which was all the design of the holy man.

Another infidel was more unhappy; he was one of the first rank in Manapar; a man naturally violent and brutal.  Xavier one day going to visit him, desired him, in courteous words, that he would listen to what he had to say to him concerning his eternal welfare.  The barbarian vouchsafed not so much as to give him the hearing, but rudely thrust him out of his house, saying, “That if ever he went to the Christians’ church, he was content they should shut him out.”  Few days after, he was assaulted by a troop of armed men, who designed to kill him:  all he could do was to disengage himself from them, and fly away.  Seeing at a distance a church open, he made to it as fast as he could run, with his enemies at his heels pursuing him.  The Christians, who were assembled for their exercises of devotion, alarmed at the loud cries they heard, and fearing the idolaters were coming to plunder the church, immediately shut their doors, insomuch that he, who hoped for safety in a holy place, fell into the hands of murderers, and was assassinated by them, without question by a decree of the divine justice, which revenged the saint, and suffered the wretch to be struck with that imprecation which he had wished upon himself.

These miracles, which Xavier wrought by the means of children, raised an admiration of him, both amongst Christians and idolaters; but so exemplary a punishment caused him to be respected by all the world:  and even amongst the Brachmans there was not one who did not honour him.  As it will fall in our way to make frequent mention of those idol-priests, it will not be from our purpose to give the reader a description of them.

The Brachmans are very considerable amongst the Indians, both for their birth and their employment.  According to the ancient fables of the Indies, their original is from heaven.  And it is the common opinion, that the blood of the gods is running in their veins.  But to understand how they were born, and from what god descended, it is necessary to know the history of the gods of that country, which in short is this: