THE EASTERN COAST. 
565 
Portuguese settlement. He agrees, however, with 
De Barros in describing it as unhealthy in an ex- 
traordinary degree. Criminals condemned to death 
at Goa were, as a punishment nearly equivalent, 
sent to this settlement, where five or six years were 
accounted a long life. He was told that the gold 
and ivory obtained in the interior were purchased 
at a very easy rate. The natives, on receiving a 
certain quantity of toys and glass beads, dug a hole 
in the earth, into which they put these articles, 
then taking them out, they filled the same hole with 
gold dust, and gave it in exchange. Ivory was 
given for its bulk in a certain species of Indian 
cloth. The author, however, does not pledge him- 
self for these terms of trade. The slaves brought 
from Mosambique were highly esteemed in India. 
Peculiar care was taken to convert them to the 
Christian faith, in the profession of which some of 
them became eminent, and were even raised to the 
character of priests. 
Mr Salt, who visited Mosambique in 1809, has 
favoured us with the only recent description of this 
part of Africa. This settlement retained few traces 
of the strength and importance which once dis- 
tinguished it. The fort was indeed advantageous- 
ly situated, and defended by eighty pieces of can- 
non ; but these were in a state of total neglect, 
and covered with the rust of antiquity. Some of 
