56 
MOS AMBIQUE. 
The following early description by one of their most celebrated 
writers, Zaneddin Omar ibn V Wardi, is the most interesting I 
am acquainted with, and as it has never before (to my knowledge) 
been translated, may be acceptable to the reader. I am enabled 
to give it through the kind assistance of a friend, who made it out 
from three copies of the ''Kheridat al ajaieb wa feridat al goraieb," 
written by the above author, which I brought over from Arabia. 
" The land of the Zinji lies opposite to that of Sind; between 
" the two intervenes the breadth of the Sea of Persia. The inha^ 
bitants are the blackest of the negro race ; they worship idols, 
are brave, hardy and fight in battle riding on oxen, as their 
country supplies neither horses, mules, nor camels. Massoudi * 
says, ' I have seen their oxen kneel like camels to be laden, and 
they travel as fast with their burthens.' Their habitations extend 
fi'om the extremity of the gulph (supposed Gardafui) to the 
low land of gold (Sofala 't il Dhab.) This country is extensive, 
" and abounds in gold, grain, and the treasures of nature, and 
their towns are populous ; each town lying adjacent to the 
" branch of a river. Snow is not known among them, nor rain, 
" which is commonly the case with the greater part of the country 
of the blacks. They have no ships, but traders come in vessels 
from Ummaun, to buy their children, whom they sell in different 
countries. The Zinji are extremely numerous, though deficient 
" in the means of carrying on war. It is said that their king goes 
forth to battle with three thousand followers riding on oxen. 
The Nile is divided above their country at the mountain of 
* This Author wrote his work on geography, in the S36th year of the Hegira. (Biblioth. 
raerbelot.) 
