12^ DISCOVERIES OF THE l»ORTUGUESE. 
The magicians appear to have been resorted to 
universally in cases of malady^ which proved a 
hard trial on the faith even of the steadiest con- 
verts. When their children or near relations were 
seized with illness, they immediately began to cast 
a longing eye towards their old method of cure ^ 
and if they had not recourse to it, they even in- 
curred reproach among their neighbours, as suf- 
fering their relation to die, rather than incur the 
expense of a magician. Merolla's indignation 
was peculiarly roused by a certain lady of rank, 
who, he understood, not only performed magical 
cures, but wore dishevelled hair, and beat a drum 
before her, in sign of her profession. She had 
also a son whom she educated in the same arts. 
The missionaries instantly began a prosecution 
against these two person, who, being warned, 
made their escape ; but were so closely pursued, 
that they fell into their hands, and were delivered 
bound to the count. That prince, unwilling to 
proceed to the extremities on which the fathers 
were bent, caused them to be privately sent off to 
an island in the Congo. This drew upon him a 
violent invective from Merolla, who reminded 
him of the glorious example of his predecessor. 
Count Stephen, who, whenever a wizard was dis- 
covered in the country, had his head " lopt off 
" without further ceremony." It does not ap- 
pear, however, that the missionary ever obtained 
