20 EARLY EAST AFRICA 



great Zambezi River, that mighty waterway whose 

 future was destined to be so intimately linked with 

 the expansion of Portuguese influence in this part 

 of Africa. With the remainder of the great navi- 

 gator's voyage, therefore, we are not concerned. 

 He has shown us the way to the mouth of the 

 Zambezi, and we shall now pass to the considera- 

 tion of what befell those early pioneers who so 

 shortly followed him. 



As we have seen from the facts outlined in the 

 early part of this chapter, one of the most important 

 of the centres of commerce in East Africa was that 

 of Sofala, and the large output of gold and ivory 

 obtained there, and carried thence in fast-sailing 

 dhows to Muscat, Persia, and distant India, had 

 lent that place a celebrity which was soon to reach 

 the ear of the commander of the Portuguese 

 vessels. Not, however, until the voyage to India 

 had been successfully concluded was it found pos- 

 sible to establish relations of a commercial character 

 with a point so distant from the d^p&t which had 

 been formed at Mozambique. Early in the 16th 

 century, Sancho de Toar was probably the first 

 Portuguese officer to show the national flag at the 

 golden port, and on the arrival at his post of the 

 newly appointed Viceroy of India, the latter gave 

 immediate orders for the construction of fortresses 

 both at Sofala and Mozambique. 



The first Capitao-mdr * of Sofala was appointed in 

 1505. This was Pero d'Anhaya, an officer of some 

 distinction, who in that year was sent out from 



* A title somewhat difficult to define, but usually meaning 

 "Military Commander." 



