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reaching La Mina Jan. 19, 1482, gave immediate Notice of his Arrival to Caramanfa, a petty Prince of that Part of the Country, whom he very earneftly invited to an immediate Conference.

Having received a Meffage of Civility from the Negro Chief, he landed, and chofe a rifing Ground, proper for his intended Fortrefs, on which he planted a Banner, with the Arms of Portugal, and took Poffeflion in the Name of his Mafter. He then raised an Altar at the Foot of a great Tree, on which Mafs was celebrated, the whole Affembly, fays Lafitau, breaking out into Tears of Devotion at the Profpect of inviting these barbarous Nations to the Profeflion of the true Faith. Being fecure of the Goodnefs of the End, they had no Scruple about the Means, nor ever confidered how differently from the primitive Martyrs and Apoftles they were attempting to make Profelytes. The firft Propagators of Chriftianity recommended their Doctrines by their Sufferings and Virtues; they entered no defenceless Territories with Swords in their Hands; they built no Forts upon Ground to which they had no Right, nor polluted the Purity of Religion with the Avarice of Trade, or Infolence of Power.

What may ftill raife higher the Indignation of a Christian Mind, this Purpose of propagating Truth appears never to have been feriously purfued by any European Nation; no Means, whether lawful or unlawful, have been practifed with Diligence and Perfeverance for the Conversion of Savages. When a Fort is built, and a Factory established, there remains no other Care than to grow rich. It is foon found that Ignorance is moft eafily kept in Subjection, and that by enlightening the Mind with Truth, Fraud and Ufurpation would be made lefs practicable, and lefs fecure.

In a few Days an Interview was appointed between Caramanfa and Azambue. The Portuguese ut

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tered by his Interpreter a pompous Speech, in which he made the Negroe Prince large Offers of his Mafer's Friendship, exhorted him to embrace the Religion of his new Ally, and told him, that as they came to form a League of Friendship with him, it was neceffary that they fhould build a Fort, which might ferve as a Retreat from their common Enemies, and in which the Portuguefe might be always at hand to lend him Affiftance.

The Negroe, who feemed very well to underftand. what the Admiral intended, after a fhort Paufe, returned an Anfwer full of Refpect to the King of Portugal, but appeared a little doubtful what to determine with relation to the Fort. The Commander faw his Diffidence, and ufed all his Art of Persuasion to overcome it. Caramanfa, either induced by Hope, or constrained by Fear, either defirous to make them Friends, or not daring to make them Enemies, confented, with a Shew of Joy, to that which it was not in his Power to refufe, and the new Comers began next Day to break the Ground for the Foundation of a Fort.

Within the Limit of their intended Fortification were fome Spots appropriated to fuperftitious Practices; which the Negroes no fooner perceived in Danger of Violation by the Spade and Pickax, than they ran to Arms, and began to interrupt the Work. The Portuguefe perfifted in their Purpole, and there had foon been Tumult and Bloodfhed, had not the Admiral, who was at a Distance, to fuperintend the unlading the Materials for the Edifice, been in'formed of the Danger. He was told at the fame Time, that the Support of their Superftition was only a Pretence, and that all their Rage might be appeafed by the Prefents which the Prince expected, and of which he had been offended by the Delay.

The Portuguese Admiral immediately ran to his Men, prohibited all Violence, and stopped the Com

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motion; he then brought out the Prefents, and fpread them with great Pomp before the Prince; if they were of no great Value, they were rare, for the Negroes had never feen fuch Wonders before, they were therefore received with Extafy, and perhaps the Portuguese derided them for their Fondnefs of Trifles, without confidering how many Things derive their Value only from their Scarcity; and that Gold and Rubies would be Trifles, if Nature had fcattered them with lefs Frugality.

The Work was now peaceably continued, and fuch was the Diligence with which the Strangers haftened to fecure the Poffeffion of the Country, that in twenty Days they had fufficiently fortified themfel. es against the Hoftility of Negroes. They then proceeded to complete their Defign. A Church was built in the Place where the firft Altar had been raifed, on which a Mafs was established to be celebrated for ever, once a Day, for the Repofe of the Soul of Henry, the firft Mover of these Discoveries.

In this Fort the Admiral remained, with fixty Soldiers, and fent back the Reft in the Ships, with Gold, Slaves, and other Commodities. It may be obferved that Slaves were never forgotten, and that wherever they went, they gratified their Pride, if not their Avarice, and brought fome of the Natives, when it happened that they brought nothing elfe.

The Portuguese endeavoured to extend their Do❤ minions ftill farther. They had gained fome Knowledge of the faleffs, a Nation inhabiting the Coaft of Guinea, between the Gambia and Senegal. The King of the Faloffs being vicious and luxurious, remitted the Care of the Government to Bemoin, his Brother by the Mother's Side, in Preference to two other Brothers by his Father. Bemoin, who wanted neither Bravery nor Prudence, knew that his Station was invidious and dangerous, and therefore made an Alliance with the Portuguese, and retained them

in his Defence by Liberality and Kindnefs. At last the King was killed, by the Contrivance of his Brothers, and Bemoin was to lose his Power, or maintain it by War.

He had Recourfe in this Exigence to his great Ally, the King of Portugal, who promifed to fupport him, on Condition that he should become a Chriftian, and sent an Ambaffador, accompanied with Miffionaries. Bemoin promifed all that was requested, objecting only that the Time of a Civil War was not a proper Seafon for a Change of Religion, which would alienate his Adherents; but faid, that when he was once peaceably established, he would not only embrace the true Religion himfelf, but would endeavour the Converfion of the Kingdom.

This Excufe was admitted, and Bemain delayed his Converfion for a Year, renewing his Promife from Time to Time. But the War was unfuccessful, Trade was at a Stand, and Bemoin was not able to pay the Money which he had borrowed of the Portuguese Merchants, who fent Intelligence to Lisbon of his Delays, and received an Order from the King, commanding them, under fevere Penalties, to return Home.

Bemoin here faw his Ruin approaching, and hoping that Money would pacify all Refentment, borrowed of his Friends a Sum fufficient to difcharge his Debts; and finding that even this Enticement would not delay the Departure of the Portuguese, he embarked his Nephew in their Ships, with an hundred Slaves, whom he prefented to the King of Portugal, to folicit his Affiftance. The Effect of this Embaffy he could not ftay to know; for being foon after depofed, he fought Shelter in the Fortress of Arguin, whence he took Shipping for Portugal, with twenty-five of his principal Followers.

The King of Portugal pleafed his own Vanity and that of his Subjects, by receiving him with

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great State and Magnificence, as a mighty Monarch who had fled to an Ally for Succour in Misfortune. All the Lords and Ladies of the Court were affembled, and Bemoin was conducted with a fplendid Attendance into the Hall of Audience, where the King rose from his Throne to welcome him. Bemoin then made a Speech with great Eafe and Dignity, reprefenting his unhappy State, and imploring the Favour of this powerful Ally. The King was touched with his Affliction and ftruck by his Wifdom.

The Converfion of Bemain was much defired. by the King, and it was therefore immediately propofed to him that he fhould become a Chritian. Ecclefiafticks were fent to inftruct him, and having now no more Obftacles from Intereft, he was eafily perfuaded to declare himfelf whatever would pleafe thefe on whom he now depended. He was baptized on the third Day of December 1489, in the Palace of the Queen with great Magnificence, and named John after the King.

Some Time was spent in Feafts and Sports on this great Occafion, and the Negroes fignalized themfelves by many Feats of Agility, far furpaffing the Power of Europeans, who having more Helps of Art, are lefs diligent to cultivate the Qualitics of Nature. In the mean Time twenty large Ships were fitted out, well manned, flored with Ammunition, and laden with the Materials neceffary for the Erection of a Fort. With this powerful Armament were fent a great Number of Miffionaries under the Direction of Alvarez the King's Confeffor. The Command of this Force which filled the Coat of Africa with Tenor, was given to Pedro Vaz d'Acugna furnamed Bifagu; who foon after they had landed, not being well pleafed with his Expedition, put an End to its Inconveniences by ftabbing Bemoin fuddenly to the Heart. The King heard of

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