Japan and the Japanese

76 JAPAN. A. D. 15511557.
tributcd to the spread of the new faith was, so we are to.d, the ex.
ceediug zeal, self-denial, and disinterestedness of the new converts,
including among the number several bonzes of the old religions,
some of whom were made Jesuits, and even ordained priests, and
who soon gave examples of sublime piety, which even the mission-
aries themselves found it difficult to imitate.
Meanwhile, Peter d'Alcaceva, one of the newly-arrived Jesuits,
having been sent back to Goa for further aid, on his way to that
capital, found at Malacca the body of Xavier, preserved in quicklime,
and also on its way to Goa, whither he attended it. At (Joa
he encountered Feniam Mendez Pinto, who, having amassed great
wealth in the Indies, was about to return to Portugal. Preliminary
to this voyage Pinto made a general confession to Father Nugnes
Barreto, the vice-provincial of the Jesuits ;
after which, falling upon
the subject of Xavier, whose dead body lying at Goa was reported
to work numerous miracles, he related to his confessor many won-
derful stories of the prodigies which he himself had witnessed while
with Xavier at Bungo. Passing thence to the zeal and merits of
the Japanese converts, he strongly urged Nugnes to proceed thither
to take Xavier's place, even offering himself to go as his companion,
and to devote the whole of his fortune (except two thousand crowns
to be sent to some poor relations in Portugal), partly to the found-
ing of a seminary at Amanguchi, whence the faith might be diffused
through the whole of Japan, and partly in purchasing magnificent
presents for the princes of the country, which he thought would be
a good means of securing their favor for the new religion.
Pinto was accordingly appointed ambassador from the Portuguese
viceroy to the king of Bungo, and Nugnes sailed for Malacca in his
company, taking with him Father Gaspard Vilela, four brothers,
not yet priests, and five young orphans from the Seminary of the
Holy Faith, to act as catechists. Before setting out, Nugnes and
his brother Jesuits renewed their vows, according to a rule of the
order, which required such a renewal once every six months. Pinto
was present at this ceremony, and his excitable temperament was
so wrought upon by it, that, seized with a sudden impulse, he
Insisted upon himself repeating the vows, with an additional one to
consecrate his person and his goods to the Japanese mission. As
he was the viceroy's ambassador, it was resolved that he should not