DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 55 
opportunity of displaying the prowess of some of 
his own followers. As the principal Portuguese 
cavaliers were making a display of their horseman- 
ship, he called several negroes, who, on foot, fol- 
lowed and kept pace with the swiftest of these ani- 
mals. The same negroes leapt ofi a horse, as it 
was riding at full gallop, and, following, again 
mounted, with the same promptitude as if he had 
been standing perfectly immoveable. 
Meantime, # the Portuguese court were busily 
employed in equipping a fleet, which, under the 
shew of establishing Bemoy in his native domi- 
nions, might establish their own power on the fer- 
tile banks of the Senegal. The armament consist- 
ed of twenty caravels, well armed and equipped, 
and having on board a large proportion of land 
troops, with materials for building a fortress. The 
command was given to Pero Vaz d'Acunha, while 
Alvaro, a brother of the order of Dominicans, 
was sent with a body of monks for the purpose of 
converting the natives to the Christian faith. 
With this armament, Pero Vaz entered the Senegal, 
and began the erection of the intended fort. But 
it appears, that some misunderstanding arose be- 
tween him and the African prince. The latter, 
probably, soon perceived, that the Portuguese were 
more intent upon laying the foundation of their 
* Pi Barros, III, 12, 
