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 long 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 intelhgence 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 3^ 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 nearl}^ boarded a second time by 

 the Congo sloop. We had no sooner doubled the Cape, than 



