30 EARLY EAST AFRICA 



you, and thence, voyaging by the kingdoms which 

 extend to the river side, none daring to offer him 

 hindrance, Francisco Barreto with the soldiery and 

 followers arrived at length at the kingdom of 

 Chicova, where he fortified a large encampment. 

 Then began they all to seek for silver, but none 

 was found, since the cafres, for dread lest they 

 should lose their country if the mines were made 

 known to the Portuguese, dared not point the 

 places out. For fear of this the cafres fled, so that 

 not one remained who could be taken and by force 

 or the torture made to discover the silver to us. 



" At length a negro, moved thereto by the large 

 promises of reward the Governor had made, re- 

 solved to show to him some pieces of silver taken 

 from the true mines, but buried in another part of 

 these lands, saying and pretending that where it 

 should be found there the mines lay. Thus did he, 

 and going secretly by night with some pieces of 

 silver of four or five pounds each, he buried them 

 in a distant place. 



" The next day, it being afternoon, he came to 

 the Governor almost at sunset and told him he 

 would disclose to him secretly the place of the 

 mines, covenanting that he should receive certain 

 cloth and beads as his reward. These the Governor 

 promised him with great joy, and for his content- 

 ment gave orders that he should receive at once 

 a portion of his guerdon. He then gathered 

 together a company of soldiers, and with the cafre 

 set out to the place where the silver had been buried. 

 Here they were told to dig, for here, said the guide, 

 the silver mines truly lay. After digging up much 



