68 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
chosen to fill his uncle's place. Order being thus 
restored, the expedition arrived at Congo, and 
sailed up the river. The first place at which they 
landed was Sono, or Sogno ; the governor of 
which was a nephew of the king, and called Mani 
Sono, which signifies " Lord of Sono." As soon 
as this prince learned the arrival of the Portu- 
guese, he hastened to meet them, accompanied 
by a numerous train of his vassals, and by a pro- 
digious sound of horns, kettle-drums, and all the 
instruments which the country alforded. He then 
stated, that his instructions were to conduct them 
immediately to the king ; but petitioned that he 
himself should be immediately baptized, as being 
at an age so advanced, that he might otherwise 
not survive to have the ceremony performed. A 
large house was therefore formed, and branches 
of trees cut by the prince's servants ; and three 
altars with rich ornaments were erected. The 
sons of Mani Sono, and the whole train of atten- 
dants, expressed an earnest wish to have the same 
ceremony performed upon them ; but he repre- 
sented that this was a task which the king wished 
to reserve to himself ; and that unless in his own 
particular instance, such a wish ought to be im- 
plicitly obeyed. After the ceremony, this mo- 
narch, says the historian, was so deeply impressed 
with the instructions of the Portuguese, and fired 
with so holy a zeal, that, hearing a noise made by 
