36 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
neo-roes had shown themselves timid and even hostile, 
and had thrown stones to prevent the crews from pro¬ 
curing water. Now they brought oxen and sheep, and, 
to show their pleasure at the visit of the Portuguese, 
“ they began,” says Nicolas Velho, “ to play upon four 
or five flutes, some set high, some low, a wonderful 
harmony for negroes, from whom one scarcely looks for 
music. They danced also, as dance the blacks, and the 
Capitam mor commanded the trumpets to sound, and 
we in our boats danced too, the Capitam mor himself 
dancing, as soon as he had returned amongst us.” 
SLAVE GRINDING CORN. 
What shall we say to this little fete and this mutual 
serenade between the Portuguese and the negroes ? 
Would any one have expected to behold Gama, a grave 
man, as his portraits represent him, initiating the 
negroes into the charms of the pa vane. Unhappily 
these favourable dispositions were transient, and it was 
found necessary to have recourse to some hostile demon¬ 
strations by means of repeated discharges of artillery. 
In this Bay of Sam-Braz Gama erected a padrao, 
which was thrown down as soon as he was gone. The 
fleet soon passed the Rio Infante, the furthest point 
reached by Diaz. Here the ships experienced the effects 
