_ 144 _ thousand, all left with the fleet. They came to say goodbye to the Fathers and Brothers, just as if they all belonged to the Society; in keeping with the love, they have for it, for without the blessing of Father Superior Gaspar they did not consider themselves safe. Meanwhile the Viceroy who was already outside the city ready to embark, did not wish to leave without the Father's blessing and without his first consecrating the flag or royal banner. Brother Cristovao da Costa will be able to write in more detail about this fortunate and prosperous journey(A), as he was going to embark and depart with the same fleet as Brother Reimao Pereira. One day while Brother Antonio Fernandes was on his way from this College to the riverbank, he saw many Moors and heathens who were the King's captives, in a spot called Sala(B) and he asked some of them if they wanted to become Christians. Our Lord was pleased to imbue him with so much fervour for him to speak about God and for them to hear him, that when he returned home at night, he told Father Superior Gaspar that he had gathered forty men to become Christians. The Father instructed the same (A) The fragment of Father Cristovao da Costa's letter contains nothing about this (Cf Doc 111). (B) Polanco less accurately calls the place Salas (Cf Chron II p. 746).
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