THE EASTERN COAST. 
357 
islands near the shore. Being again obliged to 
land for water, the crew were met by a body of 
two thousand men, who poured in upon them clouds 
of arrows. The first discharge of artillery, however, 
put these assailants to flight, and caused such ter- 
ror, that the Xeque immediately sent to make an 
apology for what had passed, and to offer a pilot, 
who, he assured them, was every way qualified to 
be their guide to India. He was accordingly re- 
ceived on board, and the expedition set sail ; but 
they soon found, says the writer, " they had with 
" them a mortal enemy rather than a pilot." It 
was not long till he embarrassed them among some 
islands, from which they could with difficulty ex- 
tricate themselves. There was no prospect of 
reaching India under such guidance ; and Gama 
therefore readily listened to his proposal of touch- 
ing at Quiloa, which, he was assured, contained a 
great number of Abyssinians and natives of India, 
and where there could be no difficulty of procuring 
a proper pilot. The currents carried them beyond 
Quiloa ; and it was then determined to touch at 
Mombaca, which was asserted to contain an equal 
proportion of the subjects of Prester John. In a 
few days they arrived at Mombasa, the view of 
which affected the armament with singular plea- 
sure. The houses were buiit of stone, with ter- 
races and windows in the Spanish style, so that 
it appeared to them as if they were entering a 
port of Spain. Their satisfaction was gi'eatly aug- 
