Japan and the Japanese

CHAPTER IX.
LOUIS ALMEIDA. THE MISSIONARIES ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AT MTAKO.
LOUIS FROEZ. PRINCES CONVERTED IN XIMO. RISE OF NOBUNANGA
PROSPERITY OF TIIE MISSIONS. NOBLE AND PRINCELY CONVKRTS.
NAGASAKI BUILT. NOHUNANGA MAKES HIMSELF E.MPEROS. A. D.
1557 1577.
THE loss of Pinto and Nugnes, and even that of Father Gago ;
who, three or four years later, after a very zealous career as a mis-
sionary, grew weary of the work, and obtained permission to return
to Goa, was more than made up for by the accession of William
and liuys Pereyra, two of the catechists brought by Nugnes, and
whom, before his departure, he admitted into the order, and espec-
ially by that of Louis Almeida, who had arrived in Japan as sur-
geon to a trading vessel, and who, after amassing a large fortune,
gave it all to pious uses of which a hospital for abandoned infants
was one and, joining the Jesuits, soon became distinguished for
his zeal and assiduity as a missionary.
The extension which, in the fluctuating condition of affairs, shortly
afterwards took place of the dominions of the king of Bungo over
the greater part of the island of Ximo, was very favorable to the
new religion. The prince of Firando was obliged to pay him trib-
ute, and, notwithstanding the double-faced policy of that prince^Aj|,
new doctrine continued to spread in his territories, where some of
the members of the ruling family became converts. A n.ew church
was planted at Facata, and the* old original one at Cangoxima
was reestablished. Presently the new faith gained a footing also
in the kingdoms of ARIMA an-1 GOTTO, which, as well as Firando,
had been dissevered from the ancient province of Figen. The lord
of Ximabara (afterwards famous as the last stronghold of the Cath-
olics) invited the missionaries to his city. The king of Arima was