DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE* 69 
groes, carrying on their heads all the baggage, as 
well as whatever would be required for the ser- 
vice of the altar. They were met half way by a 
large deputation appointed to welcome them ; but, 
at the distance of two leagues from the capital, a 
cavalcade appeared, on a much greater scale than any 
former one. They came in three lines, armed after 
the manner of the country, and with a prodigious 
noise of barbarous instruments, performing in such 
an order, as to remind the Portuguese of the pro- 
cessions for invocation and prayers for the saints. 
From time to time, the whole body raised a shout 
so tremendous, that it seemed to rend the skies. 
The burden of the song consisted always in praise 
of the king of Portugal, on account of what he 
was now sending to their sovereign. The troops 
of Congo then wheeled round, and the Portuguese 
being placed in the centre, marched to the spot 
where the king was preparing to give them an 
audience. It was in a large park, so covered with 
people, that they could with the utmost difficulty 
effect a passage. The king was stationed on a 
wooden scaffold of timber, so elevated, that he 
could be seen by the whole assembly. He sat in 
a chair of ivory, ornamented with some pieces of 
well carved wood. IJis dress consisted of skins of 
beasts, which are praised as glpssy, and blacker 
than his own skin ; the lower part of his body was 
covered with a damask robe, presented to him by; 
