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DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 79 
all, except one, such a proposition staggered the 
faith even of the most zealous converts. They 
agreed, indeed, after some consideration, to invest 
one with the name of wife, while the rest received 
the humbler appellation of servants or concubines ; 
but, as the change of name produced no change in 
the connection, and the children even were all 
treated in the very same manner, the missionaries 
could not listen to such a compromise. Indeed, 
though their conduct in this affair may not always 
have been perfectly temperate or judicious, they 
seem to have acted upon strictly conscientious 
motives ; and the obstacle which they had to en- 
counter was real and almost insurmountable. From 
this cause, a violent persecution arose against 
them in the states, both of the king and of the 
Count of Sogno. They succeeded, however, it 
does not exactly appear how, in appeasing it, and 
in re-establishing themselves on a friendly footing 
with these potentates. Being now reinforced by 
a new body of Capuchins, they determined to 
undertake missions into the interior, particularly 
to the countries extending upwards along the 
Congo. 
The fathers Gabriel and Antony undertook the 
mission to Batta, the province nearest to the capi- 
tal. It is situated, not immediately upon the 
Congo, but with its frontier extending parallel to 
that river, at the distance of twenty or thirty miles 
