134 Remarks on Delagoa Bay. 



for many miles, and has its source in the mountains North-west 

 of Inhamban, and nearly North from its mouth. From this 

 direction, and from its having its sources near that of the river 

 of Inhamban, it is certain no other very considerable one can 

 exist on the, coast between them. This river has the advantage 

 of opening a free communication with an immense country of 

 great fertility even to the Portuguese post Manna, which is 

 said by them to be not far from its source, but the situation can- 

 not be ascertained, further than it is in the Captaincy of Rios 

 de Senna. 



Inyack extends from the Cape and Island of that name, 

 sometimes improperly called St. Mary, V> the southward along 

 the coast to the river. It is bounded on the West, by Port 

 Melville and the territory of Mapoota ; on the East, by the sea ; 

 on the South, by the viver ; and on the North, by the bar of 

 Delagoa Bay The natives are a naked timid race, being by 

 their insular situation unexposed to wars or to depredations 

 from their neighbours. They are for the most part quite naked, 

 excepting that the one sex conceal what nature forbids them to 

 expose by means of a long tube of plaited straw, and the other 

 by a sort of apron which is passed between the limbs and fixed 

 behind. 



The inhabitants have abundance of cattle, poultry, and fish, 

 and they collect on their shores also much ambergris. They 

 have no religion whatever, yet use circumcision, and have 

 faith in witchcraft. They exchange their products for beads or 

 cloth; they have no elephants or other wild animals, and what 

 their vegetable productions are we had no opportunity of ascer- 

 taining. The king of Inyack pays tribute to the king of Ma- 

 poota, ir» acknowledgment of his superiority It may be reckon- 

 ed to contain ten thousand inhabitants. Mapoota is bounded 

 on the North, by the Bay of Delagoa; on the North-west, by the 

 kingdom of Temley ; on the West and South, by the Vaterahs 

 Olontontes, a very warlike and admirable race of Caffres, It 

 appears that not long since Mapoota was over-run by the 

 Veterahs, who at length settled therein by agreement. They 

 possess more industry than the Mapootans, and have improved 

 the country so much that it always enjoys abundance, and 

 through them the Veterahs of the interior barter their ivory 

 and horn for beads and coarse cottons, which are obtained 

 principally from the Portuguese factory. Their products are 

 cattle, goats, poultry, rice, Indian corn, sweet potatoes, pine 

 apples, plantains, and several other tropical fruits; onions, 

 cabbages, and pumpkins, they have in great abundance, with 

 many fruits peculiar to the country. In customs, manners, &c. 

 they resemble the inhabitants of Inyack and Temley, they are 

 much inclined to trade, and when they can with impunity, 

 they are said to be very treacherous, as indeed are all tho 



