RELIGION. 95 



domain, and a hundred and fifty thoufand flaves belonging to 

 the houfes to be fet at Uberty, enrolled and ranked among the 

 people. As to thefe Chriftians, who in the ordinance are called 

 outlandifli Bonzees from Ta-tjing or Mu-hu-pa, about three thou- 

 fand in number, they were alfo included, and directed to return 

 to a fecular life, " to the end that the cuftoms of our empire," 

 fays the decree, *' may be uniform and unmixed." From this 

 time the hiftory of thefe people was configned to oblivion, nor 

 ever would have been known, but for the difcovery of the Si' 

 gnan-fu monument. 



The ambition of the great Jefuit St. Francis de Xavier to ex- St. Francis 

 tend the power and importance of his new order, is mentioned 

 largely at vol. i. p. 113. of this work. 



In 1549 he failed from Goa to Japan, and after difcharging 

 his million in that ifland, determined on a vifit to China. Death 

 fruftrated his pious defign, but preferved him from the raortifi- 

 cation of being refufed an entrance into the empire, according 

 to the moft rigid ordinances then in force. He departed this life 

 off the ifle of Sancian. The Chinefe had no objecftion to receive 

 a dead chrii^ian ; they permitted his interment ; his coffin was 

 filled with unflacked lime, which miraculoufly loft its nature, 

 and the body, preferved vininjured, was found entire, fweet, and 

 with all moifture, fifty years after, (Du Halde fays only as 

 many months) and brought with due veneration to the city of 

 Goa. 



From this period to the end of the fame century, no attempt jiiuiTs; 

 was made to follow the great example of St. Xavier. A few Do- 



tninicans 



