34 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 



dkl not forget their ancient country. They 

 ft ill indeed carry on an inconfiderable trade 

 with Aden, Mafcate and the coafls of Abyf- 

 fmia. They have alfo on the fmall riyer 

 of Bombetoc, in Madagafcar, a kind of 

 fettlement, which enables them to vifit dif- 

 ferent parts of that iilandj for the purpofes 

 of commerce. By thefe means they have 

 introduced their language, and left fome 

 traces of Maliometanifm among the Male- 

 gaches. Formerly, there fubfifted between 

 the Arabs and the Portuguefe of India a 

 hatred and animofity, which were founded 

 folely on the zeal thefe two nations enter- 

 tained for their religion^ The Arabs of Co- 

 mora and Madagafcar made frequent attacks 

 upon the Portuguefe eftabiifhments on the 

 coaft of Africa, which did them great in- 

 jury : they even deftroyed fome of their 

 fettlements : but this hatred became gra- 

 dually extinguifhed, when the decline of the 



Portu* 



