78 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
court of Spain, which then reigned over Portugal, 
for the entrance of Italian missionaries into that 
region. At length, on the 20th January 1645, 
they set sail, nine in number, from the port of St 
Xucar ; and, after a tedious voyage, arrived at the 
mouth of the Congo. They were welcomed by 
the Count of Sogno, and, after a short stay, took 
their departure for San Salvador. The king re- 
ceived them in the most distinguished manner. 
A convent was built, every comfort provided, and 
the inhabitants came in crowds to be baptized. Al- 
most every mission, at its first opening, went on 
in the most prosperous manner. So long as ope- 
rations were confined to baptism, according to the 
Romish ritual, — to exhibiting images of the virgin 
and saints, — -and to distributing beads, relics, and 
Agnus Dei's, the people were amused and de- 
lighted by becoming Christians. But they never 
suspected that this profession was to interfere with 
any of their ancient habits and superstitions. When 
these were attacked, and, above all, when the ar- 
rangements respecting their females came to be dis- 
cussed, a violent struggle always arose. Here, as in 
the other negro states, every man maintained as 
many wives as his means or inclination allowed; and 
as ^ach not only provided for her own subsistence, 
but contributed to that of her husband, they were 
in every way a desirable possession. When the 
missionaries, therefore, required the dismissal of 
7 
