_ 16 _ one who survived,(A) is on his way there so that if there is any possibility of producing fruit, he will stay there and, if not, he will bear a letter from the Viceroy ordering them to handover four or five young lads, chosen by the Father, for them to receive instruction there. Then, after they have been brought here and have learnt the Portuguese language, they can become interpreters and can return there from there in three or four-years’ time. The fourth place we are in is Ormuz, where we had nobody up to the present because of a shortage of priests. This year, however, Father Vicente Tonda, who came from Italy, is going there because the captain who is presently going there,(B) with whom he sailed in the same nau, was greatly edified by him and asked me for him. Although Father Superior Francisco of illustrious memory gave great importance to Ormuz,(C) experience (A) Father Gaspar Coelho stayed in Socotra. It would appear, however, he was in no way sent as a helper. (B) The name of the district governor was D. Pedro de Sousa (CF COUTO Dec VII Bk 10 chap 7). (C) For example, Xavier wrote to Father Simao Rodriques on 20th January 1549: “The needs of the member of our Society are very great in this area, especially in the cities of Ormuz and Diu more so than in Goa; because of a shortage of preachers and spiritual persons many Portuguese live outside our religion” (EX II 36; cf ibid 45 69 218).
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