EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA, 



ON the Eastern coast of Africa, proceeding northwards from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, we find the country of Sofala, where the Portu- 

 guese have a settlement of great importance for their trade to the 

 East Indies, which is protected by a fort built on a small island near 

 the mouth of a river. The natives of Sofala are for the most part black, 

 with short, curled hair, there being but very few tawny or brown 

 among them. Those on the coast speak the Arabic language, for they 

 nre not the original natives, but descendants of Arabs who settled on 

 this coast. Sofala, according to the report of the Portuguese settlers, 

 contains some gold mines of considerable value. 



To the northward of Sofala is Monomotapa or Mocaranga, a coun« 

 try lying between the 1 5th and 20th degrees of south latitude. The 

 climate is temperate, and the soil fertile in rice and sugar-canes, 

 which last grow without cultivation. There are here vast herds of 

 elephants, and great numbers of ostriches. This country possesses 

 mines of gold and silver. The inhabitants are negroes. Like most of 

 the other nations of Africa, they admit of unlimited polygamy ; and 

 the king is said to have above a thousand wives, most of them the 

 daughters of petty chiefs. The army of the king consists only of foot, 

 for there are no horses in the country. The Portuguese had a settle- 

 ment here in 1560; but they were all murdered or forced away. 



Beyond Mocaranga, still proceeding northward, stretches the ex- 

 tensive country of Zanguebar, containing the kingdoms of Mosam- 

 bique, Melinda, and several others. Mosambique consists of three 

 islands, on the west side of a channel of the same name. The princi- 

 pal, which is not more than three miles in length, and half as much 

 in breadth, is about two miles from the continent. It was seized by 

 the Portuguese in 1497, and they have kept possession of it ever 

 since. The capital of this island, named likewise Mosambique, is 

 large and well fortified, having a strong citadel to defend the harbour.. 

 The Portuguese generally keep a strong garrison here; and trade 

 with the natives for gold, elephants' teeth, and slaves. They have 

 built several churches and monasteries, and a large hospital for sick 

 sailors. Their ships always call here in going to the East Indies, and 

 the harbour is so commodious that whole fleets may anchor and pro- 

 vide themselves with all necessaries. Mosambique is situated in lat. 

 15 deg. 5 min. south, Ion 40 deg. 10 min. east. 



The kingdom of Melinda produces gold, elephants' teeth, ostrich 

 feathers, wax, aloes, senna, and other drugs ; also plenty of rice, 

 sugar, cocoa-nuts, and other tropical fruits. The natives are some of 

 them black, and some tawny ; the women are mostly of an olive com- 

 plexion. Their dress, among the higher classes, is remarkably ele- 

 gant ; for they never appear abroad but in fine silks girt with rich, 

 gold or silver girdles, collars and bracelets of the same, or something 



