112 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
stating that he found his services more needed at 
Bamba, the king gave him a letter to the grand 
duke ; after which, Carli returned to Bamba. 
Soon after his return, an incident occurred, 
which gave him a high idea of the Congo Christians. 
One evening after sunset, he heard a very loud con- 
cert, of the most doleful sounds that had ever met 
his ear. This was found to proceed from the 
inhabitants of a neighbouring libatte, who had come 
to submit themselves to the discipline of the church. 
On repairing to the place of worship, he according- 
ly found 200 persons on their knees, beating their 
breasts, and bearing on their shoulders, as an addi- 
tional penance, logs of wood of an enormous weight. 
Carli having given some exhortation, caused the can- 
dles to be extinguished, after which these pious per- 
sons drew out leather thongs, and cords made of bark, 
with which they continued to whip themselves for a 
whole hour without intermission. Our traveller here 
bursts into an ecstasy of admiration, and laments, 
that these " miserable Ethiopians" should thus put 
to shame European Christians, who, far from em- 
ploying themselves in similar exercises, loaded with 
the opprobrious appellations of hermits and wry 
necks, those who paid a greater regard than them- 
selves to the precepts of the church. To complete 
his satisfaction, the logs, after having duly pressed 
on the shoulders of this devout assembly, were left 
behind, to serve as fuel for the convent. 
