Discoveries of the Portuguese. 131 
transpires, in the course of the narration, that the 
Portuguese took arms to find " those gold mines 
* c which the Congolans had long promised," though 
none such were probably in existence. The king 
is said to have mustered 900,000 men ; doubtless 
an immense exaggeration. Accordingly, on com- 
ing to battle, he proves not to have above 80,000. 
The troops opposed to him did not exceed 400 
Europeans, and 2000 negroes. He was soon able, 
by his multitude, to surround them ; and seeing a 
woman and child standing by the general, called 
out to his troops, that they would gain an easy vic- 
tory over an army fettered by such encumbrances. 
The monarch little suspected, that the female whom 
he beheld was the Virgin Mary, whose presence 
secured victory to the Portuguese. His army, ac- 
cordingly, was totally routed, he himself killed, and 
his crown and sceptre fell into the hands of the 
victors. In this manner the Portuguese had those 
ensigns of royalty to dispose of, which Merolla, ac- 
cordingly, succeeded in procuring for the king. 
The missionary did not remain long at the capi- 
tal ; but, notwithstanding the entreaties and re- 
proaches of the king and queen, took his leave, and 
returned to the coast. The state of his health soon 
•fter induced him to return to Europe. 
Besides narratives of travels and adventures, se- 
veral works have been published, which merely 
