118 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
vegetable emeralds. As they rowed along its 
winding banks, they were continually shaded by a 
species of tree called Mangas, which resembled the 
royal laurel, and whose branches falling down, and 
striking root, spread so wide, as soon to convert 
one tree into a species of little wood. 
The missionaries landed at Pinda, about twelve 
miles up the river, but finding the air unhealthy, 
they removed to Sogno, where the prince, whom 
they call Count, resided. Next Sunday, the Count 
having come to church in great pomp, Merolla ce- 
lebrated mass, and delivered a short sermon. The 
subject was, " Thou shalt not kill and, as of 
course the word kill frequently occurred, there aU 
ways arose on that occasion a peculiar hum through 
the congregation, which became louder and louder 
every time that the critical word was pronounced. 
The Count alone maintained an immoveable si- 
lence. After sermon, Merolla and his superior 
** were in a thousand doubts about this humming.*' 
All whom they inquired at evaded the question ; 
till at length they prevailed upon one to come to 
the house, when having treated him copiously with 
aquavitas and roll tobacco, they at length extorted 
the secret. The Count, it seems, having enter- 
tained suspicions of a plot against his life, had put 
a number of the people under the hands of the 
magicians, to undergo the Bolungo. Several per- 
sons having fallen victims to this barbarous mode 
