366 
THE EASTERN COAST. 
them were dated 1660, and one, calculated for 
throwing balls of 100 lbs. weight, appeared to be 
of Turkish origin. The garrison consisted mere- 
ly of a few sentries, some confined felons, and 
two or three old women. Ixi short, the state of 
defence was such, that a trader of Mocha un- 
dertook, if he were furnished with a hundred good 
Arabian troops, to drive the Portuguese at once out 
of this metropolis of Eastern Africa. 
In the interior of the government house, there 
still appeared traces of the ancient vice-regal mag- 
nificence. Tea was set out in a service of pure 
gold, and the negro attendants were profusely 
loaded with ornaments of that metal. According 
to an ancient custom, the governor's house was 
open in the evening to all the principal inhabitants 
of the place, who waited upon him, and were en- 
tertained with tea. The population is reckoned by 
Mr Salt at five hundred Portuguese, eight hun- 
dred of Arabian extraction, and fifteen hundred 
negroes. The trade is much reduced, and con- 
sists in gold, ivory, and slaves. The number of 
slaves annually exported does not now exceed 
four thousand. Gold and ivory sell at high prices, 
the former at L. 3, 5s. the ounce, the latter at 
L. °H to L. 25 the hundred weight. The pro- 
fits of this trade must be very great, as the ar- 
ticles taken in exchange by the natives are ex- 
ceedingly simple; such as salt, shells, tobacco, co- 
.7 
