13€ DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
professed to give a description of Congo, and 
the neighbouring countries. The first was by 
Edward Lopez, who, after having resided for 
some years in that country, was, in 1578, sent 
thither in the character of ambassador. He did 
not reach his destination ; but was driven, by con- 
trary winds, on the coast of Cumana, where he was 
detained for a long time, and found it at length 
expedient to make his way back to Portugal. 
Here he met with an Italian, of the name of Pi- 
gafetta, to whom he communicated his papers, 
and gave a variety of oral information. Pigafetta 
then composed under his eye a description of 
these regions, which he translated into Italian, 
and published in that language. * Lopez himself 
set out immediately after for Africa. 
The father, John Antony Cavazzi, went as a 
missionary to Congo in 1654, and remained there 
twelve years. On his return, he gave a report of 
his observations, which was revised and published 
in 1668, by a Bolognese preacher, of the name of 
Alamandini. Labat has translated, and made it 
the basis of his Relation Historique de VEthiopie 
Occidentale, published at Paris in 1732. 
In 1776, the Abbe Proyart published at Paris a 
history of Loango, Cacongo, and other kingdoms 
* Partly translated by Purchas, but more completely ia 
Osborne's collection. 
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