FIRST EMBASSY TO CONGO. 
67 
their countrymen. The king sent along with 
them a present of ivory, and of cloth made from 
the palm tree, being the most valuable articles 
which Congo afforded. These persons were re- 
ceived in Portugal with all the honours which the 
king uniformly bestowed on such of the African 
natives as came to visit him. They were speedily 
instructed and baptized, the king standing god- 
father to the principal envoy, and each of his lords 
to another, after which they all, in sign of satis- 
faction, took the names of those who had placed 
themselves in this relation to them. 
After the chiefs of Congo had thus spent two 
years in Europe, the king,* in the year 1490, 
/ caused a new armament of three vessels to be fit- 
ted out for the purpose of conveying them back to 
their native country. Unfortunately, the plague 
happening to rage at Lisbon, found its way into 
the fleet, and a dreadful mortality ensued in their 
voyage to Congo. Gonzalo de Sousa, the com- 
mander, and Don John de Sousa, ambassador and 
secretary, were among the victims. The expedi- 
tion being thus left without a leader, was in dan- 
ger of falling into complete disorganization. At 
length Ruy de Sousa, nephew to the deceased 
commander, though without any ostensible office, 
and going merely as a volunteer, was unanimously 
* Di Barrosj III. 9. 
