THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. rot 



Satisfaction, though now in the midft of the torrid zone, he 

 found the country abounded with large rivers, and with the 

 moft luxuriant verdure. He found a civil war in the nation 

 of Jaloffes. Bemoy, a prince of that nation, had, in a mino- 

 rity, intruded himfelf into the throne of his brothers, 

 (to whom he was but half blood), by the addrefs of his 

 mother. The eldeft of the three brothers preferved the 

 fliadow of government, and feemed to favour the ufurpa- 

 tion. Bemoy had improved that interval by cultivating the 

 Portuguefe friendihip to the uttermoft. He promifed every 

 thing; a place to build their city on the continent, which 

 the king very much defired ; and to be a convert to Chris- 

 tianity, the only thing the king wifhed ftill more. His eld- 

 eft brother dying, the king was brifkly prefied by the two 

 younger, and fteadily Supported by the Portuguefe, from 

 whom he had borrowed large funis ; but ftill appearing to 

 trifle with the day of his converfion, and the day of his pay- 

 ment, the king ordered the Portuguefe to withdraw from? 

 his country, and leave him to his fortune. The lofs of a 

 battle with his brothers foon reduced him to the neceffity 

 of flying acrofs the deferts to Arguim, and thence to Por- 

 tugal, with a number of his followers. He was received by 

 the king of Portugal with all the honours due to a Sovereign 

 prince, and baptifed at Lifbon, the king and queen being 

 his Sponfors. 



Great feftivals and illuminations were- made at this ac-- 

 quifition to Chriftianity ; and Bemoy appeared at thofe fefti- 

 vals as the greateft ornament of them, performing feats 

 of horfemanfhip never before practised in Portugal. The 

 modefty and propriety of his conversation and behaviour 

 in private, and the great dignity and eloquence which he 



4 displayed': 



