DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
87 
-spect, in the largest house ; but, when day-light 
appeared, was petrified to discover that he had 
been sleeping in an idol's temple. However, 
in the morning, he was introduced to the prince, 
who received him very cordially, lent a ready ear 
to his instructions, and soon became a complete 
convert. He always delayed, however, on very 
insufficient grounds, the entering into that full con- 
fession, which was required by the missionary. 
This inducing a strict inquiry into his life and 
conversation, it soon proved, that nine concu- 
bines, to whom he was passionately attached* 
formed the secret cause of this obstinate silence. 
The number, for an African prince, appeared by 
no means extravagant ; but the missionary did 
not the less insist upon a strict conformity to the 
Christian rule. The prince, seeing no remedy, 
at length consented to dismiss eight, and retain 
only one ; but he shewed the most extreme reluc- 
tance against being united to that one, according 
to the rites of the church. The father, however, 
would listen to no compromise, and at length car- 
ried his point. 
Every thing being thus satisfactorily arranged 
at court, the father made an excursion into the 
country. He came first to Boenza, a large town, 
which he found swarming with idols. He an- 
nounced to the chief the orders of his sovereign, 
that all these should be overthrown, and Christian,? 
