68 
MOSAMBIQUE. 
capital, Zimbaoa,* where the tribute is laid in great form at the 
feet of the Prince sitting in full state. 
Two different methods of procuring the gold are practised by the 
natives ; the first consists in digging for the ore, which is attended 
with great labour, and at present said to be seldom adopted ; and 
the other in collecting from the beds of torrents the sand that 
contains the gold, and separating it by frequent washings : in the 
latter way a considerable quantity is still annually accumulated, 
though it seems to be rapidly decreasing, for in 1593, the Go- 
vernor of Mosambique, George Menzes, collected for himself and 
the Viceroy of India 100,000 crusades, t and I do not believe that 
one-third of this amount is now altogether annually produced. 
The country around Manica is extremely fertile, and yields 
abundance of provisions and cattle. It is very mountainous, 
and supposed to lie at a great elevation above the sea, the 
weather at times being unusually cold for the latitude in which 
it is situated. Frequent storms of thunder and lightning occur, 
which are attributed by the Portuguese to the immense quan- 
tities of metallic substances with which the country abounds. 
The trade is here carried on by barter, and the goods most 
valued are Surat cloths, beads, coarse silks, and iron ; and the 
returns, besides gold, consist of ivory, ghee, and a small quantity 
of copper. 
From Sena it is about sixty leagues further up the river to 
Tete, but the navigation is much more dangerous and tedious 
* Zimbaoa is reported to be fifteen days west from Sofala, and about forty days 
from Sena. 
t Purchas,P. II. 1536. 
