CHAPTER VI 



THE KEGION OF THE BARUE 



Although not strictly speaking within the district 

 of Zambezia, the almost adjoining region of the 

 Baru^ (pronounced " barway ") is one which, by 

 reason of the little which is known of it, may claim 

 our attention through the space of a chapter. 



Situated between the Zambezi and the borders 

 of Mashonaland, and extending from the River 

 Luenya in the west to the limits of the Mozam- 

 bique Company's territory, this beautiful district 

 has for many years been the scene of almost in- 

 cessant bickerings between the Portuguese autho- 

 rities and the native occupants. From the earliest 

 times it has been ruled by powerful and influential 

 chieftains bearing the title of the Makomb^, a 

 designation stated to have been one of those which 

 belonged to the Monomotapa of old. It is almost 

 certain, indeed, that the Barue was at one time of 

 its history a portion of this ancient empire, since, 

 in the sixteenth century, Diogo d'Alca^ova, writing 

 to the first King Manoel, said : " The king who 

 reigns here (Baru^) is the son of the Makomb^ 

 Monomotapa." The Friar Joao dos Santos, more- 

 over, confirms this supposition, and, in his outline 



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