208 EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA. 



more valuable, and their heads covered with veils. The men wear a 

 kind of turban; in other respects their dress consists of a piece of 

 cotton wrapped about the middle, and descending a little below the 

 knees; their legs, feet, and the rest of the body are quite bare. The 

 meaner sort, and those who live farther from the coast, wear little 

 else than a piece of cloth round the middle, if we except their shield 

 and weapons, which are the bow and arrows, the scymetar and jave- 

 lin. Their government is monarchical; and in such veneration is the 

 king held by his subjects, that, whenever he stirs out from his palace, 

 he is carried in a sedan on the shoulders of four or more of the great- 

 est nobles of the kingdom; and incense and other perfumes are burn- 

 ed before him, as he goes through the streets of any city, by a great 

 number of ladies, who sing songs in his praise, accompanied by vari- 

 ous kinds of musical instruments. The population of the kingdom is 

 estimated at about 200,000 persons. With respect to religion, the 

 generality are Pagans, some are Mahommedans, and some Christians 

 converted by the Portuguese, who have in the capital (likewise named 

 Melinda) seventeen churches, nine convents, and ware-houses well 

 provided with European goods, The city is surrounded by fine gar- 

 dens, and has a good harbour defended by a fort ; but the entrance 

 is dangerous, on account of the great number of shoals and rocks 

 under water. 



The country of A j an is the boundary of Zanguebar towards the 

 north. It lies between lat. 2 deg. and 12 deg. north, extending from 

 the river Magadoxo to Cape Gardafui, and contains several states or 

 kingdoms ; the principal of which are Adel or Zeila, and Magadoxo, 

 the inhabitants of both which are Mahommedans. All the eastern 

 coast of Ajan is said to be sandy and barren, but to the north the 

 country is more fertile. The kings of Ajan are frequently at war 

 with the emperor of Abyssinia, and sell the prisoners which they take ; 

 they trade likewise in ivory, gold, and horses of an excellent breed. 



