98 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
" that infants should no longer be exposed in the 
" woods to be devoured by wild beasts ; and that 
46 no one, under pain of death, should eat human 
U flesh. " The missionaries then informed her, 
that, to complete these good works, one thing alone 
was wanting, which was to marry. Zingha did 
not tamely acquiesce in this demand. She urged, 
that, after leading a long life of celibacy, it would 
be indecent and ridiculous, at the advanced age of 
seventy-five, to engage, for the first time, in the 
bonds of matrimony. The missionaries, however, 
insisted, that it was altogether necessary to set this 
example to her subjects ; and she was probably 
aware, that there might be other motives, rather 
understood than expressed, derived from the course 
of life which she had been pursuing. She at last, 
therefore, chose a young courtier of humble birth, 
but who, being a good Catholic, gave entire satisfac- 
tion to the missionaries. 
The most alarming symptom of relapse which 
the queen ever presented, occurred at the death of 
an old officer, whom she highly esteemed, on ac- 
count of his military services. She sent to the 
missionaries, requesting that he might be buried in 
holy ground. This person had been outwardly a 
Christian ; but as his life had not been an ornament 
to the profession, the father would by no means 
hearken to this proposition. The queen, having 
exhausted in vain every form of entreaty, at length 
7 
