ABSTRACT
From d'Elia, Fonti Ricciane, A Jesuit lay brother, the Azorean Bento de Góis, had been sent overland from Agra in India to ascertain whether the almost legendary land of Cathay, with its alleged 'many Christians', was or was not in fact China. Brother Bento reached the town of Suzhou at the end of 1605 with a show of great prosperity, leading thirteen horses, five paid bearers and two youths that he had bought out of captivity, as well as quantities of the finest jasper. The Jesuit Fathers had for a long time known from a letter sent by their provincial in India about Brother Bento's mission. Brother Bento de Gois was Portuguese, a man of great courage and talent. Having entered the Society of Jesus, he was sent to join the mission to the Mogul court, where he remained a long time, working with the Jesuit Fathers there and fruitfully instructing Muslims, pagans and Christians.
