THE EASTERN COAST. 
355 
had apprehended. Finding the coast now bend 
inwards, he kept carefully out to sea, lest he should 
be entangled in the depth of some large bay ; and 
by this means he missed Sofala, the great empo- 
rium of those seas. He touched, however, at the 
mouth of a large river, where the sailors, who were 
tired of seeing nothing but negro visages as black 
as jet, recognised with pleasure a mixed colour, 
and found some individuals who were understood 
by their Arabic interpreter. The intercourse was 
amicable ; and they were assured, that, on proceed- 
ing to the eastward, they would find civilized na- 
tions who navigated in large vessels, and could 
easily furnish the pilots required. Having arrived 
accordingly at Mosambique, they cast anchor at 
some islands near the mouth of the harbour. Three 
or four boats soon came out, having on board wfrite 
men dressed in caps and cotton robes, and who were 
singing and playing on musical instruments. These 
boats having come up, a leading man on board in- 
quired in Arabic who they were, and what they 
wanted. On being informed that they were sub- 
jects of the king of Portugal, a cloud came over 
his countenance, which was supposed to arise from 
learning that they were Christians. They after- 
wards learned that he was a native of Fez, and, 
consequently, deeply imbued with the enmity of 
his countrymen to the Portuguese name. However, 
he studiously dissembled, — received graciously their 
