^ VOYAG£ TO SENEeAl. 
divinity ; in other respects, they are very sociable and îiônest W 
their deaiiugs. The trade which they carry on with the Euro- 
peans has refined their manners ; and they have learned from 
the Portuguese the manner of building large and convenient 
houses. 
M. Brue visited this island, and received on board lii« ship 
the greatest person belonging to it, except the king, to whota 
be was a near relation : this prince, accompanied by only tw^o 
Negroes, came with great confidence on board the French frigate : 
be had only a piece of cotton round his loins, and a hat on his 
bead ; while his hair, which was almost red, was greased with 
palm oil. He saluted M. Brue very civilly, took off his hat to 
bim, and said, through his interpreter, that the island was at his 
disposal. While tliey were in conversation with this prince, and 
were making him drink brandy, a canoe arrived from the island, 
baving on board five men. One of the Negroes came on board 
boldiog a cock in his left hand and a knife in his right : he fell 
on his knees before M. Brue, then rose, and turning to the east, 
cut his cock's throat ; he then went upon his knees again, and 
scattered a few drops of the animal's blood at M. Bine's feet. 
•He performed the same ceremony at the masts and at the pump, 
and then presented the cock to the French general : the latter 
wished to inform himself of the object of these ceremonies, and 
was told by the Negro, that the wise men of bis country consi- 
dered the whites as the eods of the sea, and that the mast was à 
divinity which caused the vessel to w aik ; while the pump was a 
miracle which made water rise, whose nature it w as to fall down. 
These Negroes retired on the approach of night ; and M. Brue 
promised the prince that he w^ould visit him next morning. 
He went according to his appointment, when the Negro prince 
received him on the shore, gave him his hand, and led him to his 
bouse, which was about 300 puces from the sea : it was large, 
built in the Portuguese style, and white-washed within and with- 
out ; it had an open vestibule at the entrance, was surrounded 
with large palm-treçs,j. and had convenient articles of furniture, 
including very neat chairs and stools of black w^ood. After offer- 
ing M, Brue refresh mesits and palm w ine, he led hirh to another 
building, about fifty paces farther : this was a chapel, with an 
saltar and benches, and a bell was attached to a tree before the 
door. The prince ordered it to be rung, and said to M . Brue, 
who was singularly astonished at what he saw^, that he had built 
^his church himself for the use of the Christians who might wish 
to settle near him ; that he was no Christian, but that he loved 
them ; and that if some priest would come and live with him, 
he would let him want for nothing. M. Brue promised that te 
