88 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
bines, to whom he was passionately attached, 
formed the secret cause of this obstinate silence. 
The number, for an African prince, appeared by 
no means extravagant ; but the missionary did 
not the less insist upon a strict conformity to the 
Christian rule. The prince, seeing no remedy, 
at length consented to dismiss eight, and retain 
only one ; but he shewed the most extreme reluc- 
tance against being united to that one, according 
to the rites of the church. The father, however, 
would listen to no compromise, and at length car- 
ried his point. 
Every thing being thus satisfactorily arranged 
at court, the father made an excursion into the 
country. He came first to Boenza, a large town, 
which he found swarming with idols. He an- 
nounced to the chief the orders of his sovereign, 
that all these should be overthrown, and Chris- 
tianity established. The chief declared his own 
perfect readiness to accede to this innovation ; 
but observed, that the mere report of such a step 
had very nearly caused a revolt, and he was con- 
vinced, that its precipitate execution would be 
attended with the most alarming effects. The 
father having used in vain every argument which 
could dispel this panic, had recourse to more vi- 
gorous measures. He seized a large staff, and 
running through the town, beat down all the idols 
stationed in the streets j then collecting the frag- 
