( 45 ) 
Art. VIII . — Observations on the Countries of Congo and 
Loango , as in 1790. By Mr Maxwell, Author of the Let- 
ters to Mungo Park, &c. &c. (Continued from VoL IV. 
p. 331.) 
Religion . — It is difficult, if not impracticable, to form a 
just idea of the state of religion among a people of whose lan- 
guage we know so little. It is chiefly, indeed, from fortuitous 
circumstances that we are to seek for any information on the 
subject. To exemplify this, Monsieur Deshay, and several 
traders, were one day dining with me, when a Drench boat, be- 
longing to an Indiaman, lying at Cape Padroon, sent to sound 
and explore the river, came alongside. The officer command- 
ing the boat, said that his ship would be at Embomma in ten or 
twelve days. In other circumstances, this intelligence would 
have alarmed me a good deal, for these ships are always pro- 
vided with very expensive and commanding cargoes; but, 
having nearly completed my purchase, I carelessly observed to 
Captain Deshay, that it was of little consequence to me, as I 
should have done by that time. “ He bien !” says he, “ Soleil 
s'eleve pour tout le monde as much as to say, he would not be 
idle. The natives, who had a smattering both of French and 
English, were much puzzled with the phrase, and could not 
possibly make out its meaning or application. Many ludicrous 
explanations were given, until Prince Nefoomu Emfoote ob- 
served to me, — “ Cappy ! — I’ll tell you what I tink Sun be, — 
I think Sun be Enzambi Empoongu's chief mate I - ” 
From all that I have been able to collect on a subject so 
interesting, there appears to be a prevailing belief in this part 
of Africa, that the affairs of the world are governed by an in- 
visible being of infinite wisdom and power, whose every scheme 
tends to the welfare and happiness of his creatures. They 
look upon the Sun as his prime agent in carrying on the ope- 
rations of nature, without whose genial influence, darkness and 
desolation would cover the face of the earth. The chief mate of 
a ship, they remarked, carried all the Captain's orders into execu- 
tion, without the appearance of the Captain himself, which no 
doubt led Nefoomu Emfoote to make use of his very judicious 
