The Isle of Amboyna is distant from Malacca about two hundred and fifty
leagues; it is near thirty leagues in compass, and is famous for the
concourse of merchants, who frequent it from all parts. The Portuguese,
who conquered it during the time that Antonio Galvan was governor of
Ternate, had a garrison in it; besides which, there were in the island
seven villages of Christians, natives of the place, but without any
priest, because the only one in the island was just dead. Xavier began to
visit these villages, and immediately baptized many infants, who died
suddenly after they were christened. "As if," says he himself in one of
his letters, "the Divine Providence had only so far prolonged their
lives, till the gate of heaven were opened to them."

Having been informed, that sundry of the inhabitants had retired
themselves from the sea-side into the midst of the woods, and caves of
the mountains, to shelter themselves from the rage of the barbarians,
their neighbours and their enemies, who robbed the coasts, and put to the
sword, or made slaves of all who fell into their hands, he went in search
of those poor savages, amidst the horror of their rocks and forests; and
lived with them as much as was necessary, to make them understand the
duties of Christianity, of which the greatest part of them was ignorant.

After having instructed the faithful, he applied himself to preach the
gospel to the idolaters and Moors; and God so blessed the endeavours of
his servant, that the greatest part of the island became Christians. He
built churches in every village, and made choice of the most reasonable,
the most able, and the most fervent, to be masters over the rest, till
there should arrive a supply of missioners. To which purpose he wrote to
Goa, and commanded Paul de Camerine to send him Francis Mansilla, John
Beyra, and one or two more of the first missioners which should arrive