KILWA ANNALS. 



363 



with a long string of their battles, marches, and 

 sudden dethronings. Kilwa was to Southern 

 what Mombasah was to Northern Zanzibar, a 

 centre of turmoil and trouble. Pounded in 

 our 10th century, and probably upon a far older 

 site, its rule eventually extended northwards to 

 Mombasah, others say to Melinde, and south to 

 the gold regions about Sofala. The first European 

 visitor was Pedralves Cabral, the accidental dis- 

 coverer of the Brazil : he anchored here on July 

 26, 1500. Tlie great port was then ruled by a 

 certain Sultan Ibrahim, murderer and usurper : 

 the Shaykhs took the royal title, and were kno^ n 

 to the Wasawahili as Mfalme, a term changed 

 by El Masudi to Oklimen or Oklimin. 'The 

 rulers of Zenj,' says the Nubian Geographer, 'are 

 entitled Oklimen, whicli means the son of the 

 great master, that is to say, the God of heaven 

 and earth : they call the Creator Tamkalanjalo.' 

 Cabral was welcomed by the chief ; but his lieges, 

 more perspicacious than their ruler, began at 

 once to show their ill-will, and the voyager con- 

 tinued his progress towards India. Kilwa was 

 also visited by Joao da Nova, by Yasco da Gama, 

 who on his second journey, in 1502, took tribute 

 from Sultan Ibrahim, and by Huy Lourengo 

 Eavasco, when en route for Zanzibar. In July, 



