30 Portugal's effort. 



by the Senegal and the Gambia; within forty years Portugal 

 had made settlements as far down as the Congo, and according 

 to the ancient maxim which gives to the victors all countries 

 conquered from infidel nations, had received from the Pope a 

 grant of full dominion in all lands which should be discovered 

 beyond Cape Bojador and in their farther progress eastward. 

 The capital of Portuguese possessions on the continent was fixed 

 at Elmina, and the king hesitated not to assume the pompous 

 title of Lord of Guinea. The new-comers, true children of 

 Rome, appealed chiefly to their religion, in establishing their 

 sway. Baptisms were made by wholesale, which was the easier 

 done because the ceremony included the putting of salt on the 

 tongue of the converts, and this was a commodity for a taste 

 of which many of the poor creatures would have faced any sort 

 of formula. The Congo princes were particularly favorable 

 for a time to the new system ; various courtesies were exchanged, 

 whole nations were Christianized by contract, the freest scope 

 was given to the missionaries, and these worthies seemed to 

 have been really animated by a very devoted and persevering 

 zeal. But they unfortunately put the presentation of beads, 

 Agni Dei, images of the Madonna, and saints, splendid pro- 

 cessions, rich furniture, and solemn festivals of the church be- 

 fore the doctrines of the Bible. They sought to dazzle the eye 

 rather than instruct the mind, to secure an outward allegiance 

 rather than an inward renewal. The new converts viewed the 

 gospel only as a gay and pompous pageant ; they had no idea 

 of the duties and obligations which were enjoined by the sacred 

 name which was pronounced over them. And naturally enough, 

 there was a tremendous reversion of feeling when the authori- 

 ties began to interfere with some of those barbarous customs, 

 which were with them time-honored and sacred, though con- 

 demned by the church. The inquisition was brought to aid in 

 the promotion of that practical piety which ought to have been 

 sought by the faithful presentation of truth and the conversion 

 of souls; wars arose, complications multiplied. The mission- 

 aries toiled and endured with a heroism worthy of truer princi- 

 ples, but they failed. And the banks of the Congo, especially, 

 where their greatest exertion was put forth, retain no trace or 

 tradition of them.' 



