FIRST EMBASSY TO CONGO. 
some of his people at the door of the church, he 
ordered them to be immediately put to death. 
The missionaries, however, very prudently inter- 
posed in their behalf, on account, as they state, 
of the scandal which might have arisen in conse- 
quence of so furious a zeal. Meantime, the mis- 
sion which had been sent to the king to announce 
their arrival, returned with an invitation to repair 
to Ambassi, the city at which that monarch re- 
sided. The party set out, accompanied by up- 
wards of two hundred negroes, carrying on their 
heads all the baggage, as well as whatever would 
be required for the service of the altar. They 
were met half way by a large deputation appoint- 
ed to welcome them ; but, at the distance of two 
leagues from the capital, a cavalcade appeared, 
on a much greater scale than any former one. 
They came in three lines, armed after the man- 
ner of the country, and with a prodigious noise 
of barbarous instruments, performing in such an 
order, as to remind the Portuguese of the pro- 
cessions for invocation and prayers for the saints. 
From time to time, the whole body raised a shout 
so tremendous, that it seemed to rend the skies. 
The burden of the song consisted always in praise 
of the King of Portugal, on account of what he 
was now sending to their sovereign. The troops 
of Congo then wheeled round, and the Portu- 
guese being placed in the centre, marched to the 
