3G3 



KILWA ANNALS. 



his family, and pointed out a ford over which 

 the invader could pass at low tide. The savages 

 fell upon the city at night, massacred those who 

 could not save themselves by flight, destroyed 

 the buildings, and carried otF 3000 persons, male 

 and female, who, according to Diogo do Couto, 

 were incontinently devoured. 



The Yu'rabi ruler, Sayf bin Sultan, after 

 driving the Portuguese from Mombasali (1G08), 

 sent his powerful fleet to Zanzibar and Kilwa, 

 which at once accepted his rule. A temporary 

 return of the Europeans took place in 1728, 

 Avhen the Capt.-General Luiz Mello de Sampayo 

 re-established the rule of his king from Patta to 

 Kilwa. Ahmed bin Said el Ilindwi rising to 

 power (1741), contented himself with annually 

 sending to the Zanzibar coast as far as Kilwa 

 three or four ships, which brought away the rich 

 exports of the neighbourhood — gold, ivory, and 

 slaves. The name of Kilwa now rarely occurs in 

 history. Late in the last century the Prench 

 here attempted to form a slave depot, which led 

 to the out-station being re-occupied by Zanzibar. 

 The Shirazis, however, held the land till the late 

 Sayyid Said seized and deported to Maskat 

 Muammadi, their last sultan, and thus the tribe 

 Avas scattered abroad. 



