When Spanish and English authorities encountered slaves from Kongo, they were surprised because:
A. Their religious leaders served as intermediaries between divine and human affairs. The slaves from Kongo practiced a form of Christianity that was influenced by their traditional religious beliefs. Their religious leaders played a crucial role in bridging the spiritual world with the human realm, which was different from the European understanding of religion at that time.
B. They had Catholic beliefs and knowledge of the Catholic Mass. The Kongo slaves exhibited familiarity with Catholicism, including Catholic beliefs and rituals like the Mass. This familiarity was unexpected to the Spanish and English authorities who did not anticipate encountering African slaves who had adopted aspects of the Catholic faith.
C. They directed their warlike nature towards other tribes. The slaves from Kongo were known for their military skills and sometimes engaged in conflicts with other tribes. This aspect of their behavior surprised the Spanish and English authorities, as it challenged stereotypes and preconceptions they held about the enslaved people from Africa.
In summary, the surprises experienced by Spanish and English authorities when encountering slaves from Kongo stemmed from the slaves' religious practices, familiarity with Catholicism, and their military capabilities and conflicts with other tribes.
