S2 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
city, in a cottage of shrubs and palm branches^ 
which had been built expressly for their use. 
They had the satisfaction to find that it contained 
nothing which could wound the most rigid vow 
of poverty and austerity. Although, too, they 
were almost fainting with hunger, no provisions 
made their appearance. The duke's secretary, 
however, entered and welcomed them with the 
most ceremonious politeness. As he departed, 
the fathers ventured an inquiry, when a small 
supply of food might be expected ? The secretary 
assured them, that there was not the remotest in- 
tention of sending any thing of that description. 
In this country, it seems, it was considered an 
indispensable mark of respect, when a stranger 
arrived, to refrain, for a whole day, from offering 
him even a drop of water. The missionaries, 
seeing no remedy for this privation, were fain to 
acquiesce, and to receive it as a compliment. 
Next day the duke waited on them, and re- 
ceived them with the same studied politeness as 
his secretary. On their expressing a wish for a 
church, he assured them that they should be im- 
mediately accommodated with one of his own 
planning. After his departure, some dishes made 
their appearance, which, though they in no de- 
gree endangered a breach of temperance, were 
sufficient to satisfy the cravings of hunger. The 
duke, however, forgot entirely his promise of 
