_ 89 _ processions took place at this time, Christ be praised, to which many people came, all barefoot, that God might raise his anger from us. The Moors were astonished when they saw it. Only once they threw stones and injured a youth; we did not know where it came from, because the procession was very long. The captain-in-chief wrote me a very pitiful letter from the siege, and I felt very sorry for them that I could not go there to comfort them, because when Master Francisco sent me to these parts, he was afraid that I might go to Persia or Turkey, although I am not as fervent as he thought. Because he wanted to take me to Japan or China, but did not know then what Our Lord would do with him there, he wanted me to bear fruit in Ormuz first, the land which had greatest need, so that all India could have the advantage of our Society, this land alone which had greatest need. So that if Our Lord carried him there alive and he made progress, he could send for me and be sure of finding me, he ordered me to be in Ormuz for three years and not go beyond the boundaries of this island, which is some two leagues, even if contrary orders came from India. If Our Lord ordered something else for him and he died, then I would act in obedience to Goa. He had this fear because I
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