EMBASSY TO BENIN. 
75 
arms and discipline of the Portuguese. However, 
it is certain that the districts, situated to the south 
of the Congo, continued during more than two 
centuries, to profess a species of Christianity ; and 
the Church of Rome, as we shall presently see, 
sent successive bodies of missionaries, who not only 
inculcated its doctrines, but sometimes exercised 
an authority almost paramount to that of the so- 
vereigns. 
Before following them, however, into the interior 
of Congo, it may be proper to notice some informa- 
tion which they collected on the coast of Benin.* 
The sovereign of that country, we are assured, on 
learning the first voyage of Diego Cam along his 
coast, was inflamed with such pious zeal, that he sent 
an embassy to Mina, requesting missionaries to in- 
struct him and his court in the Christian religion. 
This request, if it really was made, did not appear 
one to be slighted. The king sent an expedition 
under Fernando del Po, who explored the coast 
of Benin, and gave his name to the large island 
at the mouth of the Rio Formosa. He was well 
received by the king, established a factory at 
Gatton, and built a church, which was attended 
by more than a thousand of the natives. Here 
the following intelh'gence was obtained : Twenty 
moons, which, according to their rate of travelling, 
* Di Barros; III. 3, 4. 
