I 
THE GIAGAS — ZINGHA. 97 
ward forms of Christianity. To meet these good 
dispositions, such toil was required, that the mis- 
sionaries were all seized with the inflammatory- 
fever peculiar to the country. The danger of the 
disease, though great, was much less than that 
which arose from the mode of curing it. The 
principle upon which the faculty in Congo pro- 
ceeded was, that, before the constitution could be 
fitted to endure the change of climate, every drop 
of European blood must be drained, and its place 
supplied by African blood. They conceived it 
impossible, therefore, to go too far, so long as the 
patient did not actually die under the operation. 
This treatment was accompanied with purgatives 
similar to those which in Europe are administered 
to horses. Such, however, was the strength of 
their constitution, that, after four months illness, 
they all recovered. They proceeded then to the 
court of Zingha, having been previously assured 
of a cordial welcome. At the distance of two 
miles, the principal officers met, and conducted 
them to the spot, w^here the queen, surrounded 
by her guards and all her attendants, was sta- 
tioned on the top of a little eminence. On seeing 
them, she instantly fell prostrate on the ground, 
and, bathed in tears, bade them welcome. She 
then rose, took the father by the hand, and over- 
whelmed him with thanks. They soon reached 
the throne, which hau been erected before the 
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