278 PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL. 
their means and inclination, and which they never forget 
to make known. If the early missionaries had used a little 
more indulgence on this point, their doctrine would cer- 
tainly have met with a better reception. A few crosses on 
the necks of the negroes, some Portuguese prayers, and a 
few lessons taught by heart, are the only fruits that remain 
of the labours of three hundred years. If the exertions of 
the missionaries had been deliberately directed towards 
civilizing the natives, what good might not have been 
effected in the course of so Jong a period! 
July 8. We had this morning a visit of another Mafook 
from the point of Tall Trees, situated higher up the river. 
His countenance wore the mark of great good-nature. 
He brought with him as a present a beautiful little goat. 
They tell us that there are eight small Portuguese vessels 
at Embomma, which seems to be the general market-place 
of all the surrounding nations. Simons, who is an impor- 
tant personage in his capacity of interpreter, has already 
got some intelligence of his relations, after an absence of 
eleven years, and Ben is in hopes of meeting with some of 
his countrymen. ‘They all agree in considering it impos- 
sible for the Dorothy to proceed as far as Embomma. 
The rapidly advancing season will not allow us to stop un- 
til we have proceeded far up the river. The current under 
the point runs from 1 to 33 knots, and in the channel of 
the river from five and six to eleven and twelve knots. 
On the setting in of the sea-breeze, in the afternoon, we 
weighed anchor, and were nearly boarded a second time by 
the Congo sloop. We had no sooner doubled the Cape, than 
