After this, I did not see the Monk above three or four times in six Months, which was such an insupportable Mortification to me, that one Day having acquainted me of a Voyage he intended to make to _Goa_, I inform'd myself which Way he was to go, and without saying a Word to any Soul, I set out two Days before him, and went fifteen Leagues from Home to stay for him. The good Man was transported to see me, but when I told him what was the Motive of my meeting him, he had like to have discarded me for fear of the Consequences, so that I was oblig'd to give him my Oath that I would, where ever we came, declare what indeed was no more than the Truth, that he had no hand in this Excursion of mine, and that I would always endeavour at the Hazard of my Life to clear him from any such Accusation.
When we came hither, I intreated him to find me out some Person with whom I might live in the nature of a Domestic. It was not long before Father _Du Bourg_ procur'd what I wanted, for he plac'd me with one _Pelciano_ a _Portuguese_ Physician whom he knew intimately. This honest Man who had a great deal of Regard for me, took so much Pains to teach me his Language, that notwithstanding my ordinary Avocations, I was able to speak it in a very short Time. He likewise took a singular Pleasure in instructing me in his Religion, but tho' he was not so prevaricating as the Jesuit, I was shock'd at a great many Things, which I thought either ridiculous, or manifestly contradictory. I was also at some Trouble to reconcile your Chronology, which limits the Creation of the World to the Term of about 6000 Years, with ours and that of the _Indians_, who extend it with a great deal of Probability to a Distance almost infinite. Besides, I was extremely perplex'd which of the Sects to make choice of, when I heard that the Christians as well as others, are divided into a Number of Societies which differ so much in their Opinions as to cause an irreconcileable Hatred between them, so far as to damn one another; and that even in every one of these Societies there's I know not how many different Sorts of Opinions. My Master to whom I propos'd my Scruples, and who made use of all his Rhetoric to solve them, expected I should prefer the _Romish_ Religion to all others, probably because 'twas that which he profess'd himself. But being shock'd at the ridiculous Superstitions which I found those of that Communion were guilty of, I earnestly begg'd him to tell me seriously what he thought it adviseable for me to do.