towards the equinoctial line. It is a town of Saracens, on the sea side,
in a flat country, well cultivated, planted all along with palm-trees,
and beautified with fair gardens. It has a large enclosure, and is
fortified with walls, after the European fashion. Though the building is
Moresque, the houses notwithstanding are both pleasantand convenient. The
inhabitants are warlike, they are black, and go naked; excepting only
that they are covered with a kind of an apron of cotton or linen, from
the waist to the mid thigh. And indeed the heat of their climate will
permit them to wear no more; Melinda being distant from the line but
three degrees and some few minutes.

They have always maintained a good correspondence with the Portuguese, by
reason of the commerce established betwixt them. The flag of Portugal was
no sooner seen, but the Saracen king Came down to the port, attended by
the most honourable persons of his court, to receive the new governor of
the Indies. The first object which presented itself to Father Francis
when he stept ashore, drew tears from his eyes; but they were tears of
joy and pity mingled together. The Portuguese having there a constant
trade, and now and then some of them happening to die, are allowed a
burying-place near the town, full of crosses set upon their graves,
according to ihe custom of the Catholics: and above the rest there was a
very large one of hewn stone placed in the middle, and all over gilded.

The saint ran to it, and adored before it; receiving an inward
consolation, to behold it raised so high, and, as it were, triumphing
amongst the enemies of Jesus Christ. But at the same time, he was
sensibly afflicted, that this sign of our salvation served less to edify
the living, than to honour the memory of the dead. And lifting up his
hands to heaven, he besought the Father of all mercies to imprint in the
hearts of the infidels, that cross, which they had suffered to be planted