s 
DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 1^9 
be possessed of two handsome pieces of cotton cloth. 
He therefore sent one, stating, that the other was 
reserved for the service of God. The prince re- 
turned for answer, that the boat also was for the ser- 
vice of God : so that our traveller had no resource, 
but to deliver up both the pieces. The accommo- 
dation lor which he was compelled to pay thus li- 
berally, consisted merely in ferrying him over from 
the island to the southern shore of the Congo. 
Merolla now proceeded by land to the capital ; 
but the weak state of his health made the journey 
laborious. On the second day he came to Norchie, 
which appeared to him the finest situation he had seen 
in Ethiopia. The inhabitants also came in crow T ds 
to be baptized ; so that space being wanting in the 
house, the Mani invited him to go to the church. 
Delighted to hear that there was a church, he im- 
mediately repaired thither. The aspect of the door 
had something which did not altogether delight 
the eye of Merolla ; but when this door was thrown 
open, a spectacle presented itself, which made his 
hair stand on end. Instead of an altar, was a heap 
of sand, in which horns of different sizes were 
stuck ; while on one side hung two coarse aprons, 
similar to those observed at the scene of the magic 
invocation. The sight of these objects excited such 
outcries from the missionary, that the Mani and all 
his train took to flight with the utmost expedition. 
His first impulse was to set fire to the edifice ; 
VOL. I. I 
