13^ DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
execrable Cariahamha, for such was the name given 
to the tutelary idol of this pretended church, 
MeroUa was not now long of reaching the capi- 
tal, where he was introduced to the sovereign, and 
very courteously received. After the first compli- 
ments were over, the missionary began to inquire 
the motive which had induced the king to wish 
so very earnestly for this visit. The king rephed, 
that he wished to have a preacher of the gospel 
within his dominions. Merolla asked if there 
were not some other motive ; and, receiving no 
answer, added, " I fancy you sent for me, to put 
the crown of Congo upon your head." The 
gracious smile of the prince, and the murmur of 
applause from the courtiers, fully confirmed the 
presentiment of the missionary. The crown of 
the kings of Congo was then, it seems, in posses- 
sion of the Portuguese, a circumstance of which 
our author gives the following explanation. 
A prince of the name of Don Antonio, having 
ascended the throne of Congo, embroiled himself 
in a war with the Portuguese. He is described 
as a monstrous tyrant, and the sole aggressor ; yet 
it transpires, in the course of the narration, that 
the Portuguese took arms to find " those gold 
" mines which the Congolans had long promised,'* 
though none such were probably in existence. 
The king is said to have mustered 900,000 men 5 
doubtless an immense exaggeration. According- 
