860 
THE EASTERN COAST. 
In 1505, a large fleet, under Don Francisco de 
Almeyda, arrived before this city. The commander 
soon succeeded in procuring a quarrel with the king 
of Quiloa. He landed in the night, attacked the 
city at two points, and though the natives were 
enabled, by the narrowness of the streets, to make 
a vigorous resistance, at length carried the place, 
the king flying into the interior. He next pro- 
ceeded to Mombaca, where the resistance was 
still more obstinate. After a combat of two 
days, he made himself master of the town ; 
but having sustained a severe loss, consoled him- 
self by laying it in ashes ; " when," says the his- 
torian with true Catholic zeal, " was consumed the 
" greater part of that city of abomination." Al- 
meyda then sailed to Melinda, which did not offer 
any resistance. 
The southern part of this coast, however, finally 
became the chief object of attention to the Portu- 
guese. Besides affording stations of refreshment 
for the vessels bound to India, it presented that ob- 
ject of supreme attraction — gold. The stores of 
that metal, which came down the Zambese, and 
were exported from Sofala, soon excited their eager 
avidity. In 1505, permission was obtained from 
the king of Sofala to build a fort, which they were 
soon able to maintain by force. In 1508, they 
erected another at Mosambique, which soon be- 
came the capital of all their settlements upon this 
t 
