126 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
imperfect and perilous toleration, therefore, which 
the missionaries and their converts enjoyed. As 
the prince, however, had married a daughter of the 
count of Sogno, hopes were entertained that he 
might either be gained over, or might at least al- 
low the missionaries to reside and carry on their 
operations unmolested. 
Merolla crossed the Congo, and went first to 
Capinda (Cabenda), in the province of Angou. 
Greatly as he had been scandalized by the conduct 
of professing Christians on the south of the river, 
his horror was much greater, when he found pa- 
ganism reigning in full dominion. One of the 
first objects which met his eye, was the administer- 
ing of an oath, which, to render it more binding, 
was taken in presence of their idol. This object 
of adoration, he compares to a mountebank's mer- 
ry-andrew, " having a divers coloured vest on, a 
" red cap on its head, and standing on a little ta- 
" ble." Almost all the houses had such idols, 
five or six feet high, in front of them. At the 
time of new moon, they fell on their knees, calling 
out to that luminary, " So may I renew my life 
" as thou art renewed." Passing one day in the 
fields, our author saw the natives busily employed 
in invoking evil spirits. The place was a wretch- 
ed hut, built on a small rising ground, and upon 
one side of which hung two dirty aprons. In the 
midst of the hut was a mud wall, two feet high, 
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