prophecy, foreseeing a furious tempest, which was concealed under that
fallacious calm, asked the pilot, "If his ship were strong enough to
endure the violence of bad weather, and ride out a storm?" The pilot
confessed she was not, as being an old crazy vessel. "Then," said
Xavier, "it were good to carry her back into the port." "How, Father
Francis," said the pilot, "are you fearful with so fair a wind? you may
assure yourself of good weather by all manner of signs, and any little
bark may be in safety." It was in vain for the saint to press him
farther, not to believe those deceitful appearances; neither would the
passengers follow his advice, but they soon repented of their neglect.
For far they had not gone, when a dreadful wind arose, the sea was on a
foam, and mounted into billows. The ship was not able to withstand the
tempest, and was often in danger of sinking, and the mariners were
constrained to make towards the port of Negapatan, from whence they set
out, which, with much ado, they at length recovered.

The impatience of Father Xavier to visit the tomb of the apostle St
Thomas, caused him to make his pilgrimage by land; and he travelled with
so much ardour, through the rough and uncouth ways, that in few days he
arrived at Meliapor.

That city is now commonly known by the name of St Thomas; because that
blessed apostle lived so long in it, and there suffered martyrdom. If we
will give credit to the inhabitants, it was once almost swallowed by the
sea; and for proof of this tradition, there are yet to be seen under
water, the ruins of great buildings. The new town of Meliapor was built
by the Portuguese; near the walls there is a hill, which they called the
Little Mount, and in it a grotto, wherein they say St Thomas hid himself
during the persecution. At the entry of this cave there is a cross cut in
the rock; and at the foot of the mountain there arises a spring, the