96 E. D. Maclagan —Jeswit Missions to the Emperor Akbar. [WNo. 1, 
that it arrived safely. Weare now arranging the same Gospels in Persian 
with the corresponding Latin at the foot, which God willing will be much 
esteemed in Europe.’ 
Meantime Father Corsi came from Lahor to Agra for a two 
months’ stay. ‘He has learnt Persian,’ says Xavier, ‘and commenced 
Hindistani, the language of this country: and by his capacity and 
desire to learn I think he will soon master Arabic as well.’ 
On one and the same day the whole party left Agra; Corsi and 
Joao Battista to go to Lahor, Xavier and Machado to accompany the 
Emperor towards Bengal. The Hmperor was in reality advancing 
against his son Salim who lay at Allahabad and only turned back on 
hearing of the mortal illness of his mother: but when Xavier wrote, the 
object of the journey was kept in secrecy and Akbar had not as yet 
left Agra more than a march or two behind him. 
The Father concludes this part of his letter by reporting the con- 
versions of the past year. ‘They had been few indeed,’ he says, for ‘the 
Muhammadans are truly unfit to receive the Holy Gospel, and we are 
certainly unfit instruments for the conversion of such hard hearts!’ 
Including Portuguese and others, there had been during the year eight 
marriages and 25 baptisms. Then follow details regarding the baptism 
of two native infants and the conversion of a woman who was employed 
about the church. 
Xavier then turns to describe the progress made at Lahor. The 
Governor in those parts was ‘a great enemy of our faith,’ but though 
he was ready to persecute the Christians he was favourably inclined 
towards Pinheiro personally. The poorer Armenians in Lahor made 
their livelihood by selling wine, ‘for which they often get into trouble 
as the Viceroy holds their trade in detestation (though he drinks well 
himself),’ and it was only when Pinheiro had persuaded these Arme- 
nians to desist from this calling that they were safe from the persecu- 
tion of the Viceroy. Owing to Akbar’s Firman the Christians might 
practice their religion quite openly :— 
‘The feasts of Christmas and Easter are kept at Lahor with great 
solemnity, and the church being so large and beautiful, everything can be 
well carried out. Jo&o Battista, the abovementioned Italian, was present 
at one of these feasts and wept with joy to see these things done openly in a 
land of Muhammadans. When he was with us in Agra he was overcome 
with surprise at the sight of the funeral of an honourable Armenian, when 
the Christians accompanied the funeral carrying lighted candles, the cross 
uncovered borne before them, the children singing the Creed, and the 
Fathers reciting prayers bringing up the rear.’ 
All the chiefs and principal persons of Lahor, we are told, were on 
very good terms with the Fathers: ‘So are the Viceroy and the principal 
