MOSAMBIQUE. 71 
possession of by the French in 1808 ; but the influence of the 
Portuguese with the surrounding natives soon compelled them to 
abandon it. There is another small fort at Inhambane, and both 
these establishments are annexed to Sofala, and kept up for the 
purpose of collecting ivory, which the neighbouring forests abun- 
dantly supply. Sofala itself is a miserable village ; but the 
country around is extremely fertile, and furnishes considerable 
quantities of rice, oranges, and many exquisite fruits to the inha- 
bitants of Mosambique. These establishments, and others of a 
smaller description at the mouth of the Luabo, on the Island of 
Fuogo, at Angoxo, and on the Querimbo Islands, are all that 
now remain of what was once proudly termed the Sovereignty of 
Eastern Africa.* 
It appears evident from the preceding observations, that the 
consequence and value of this Colony has always been greatly 
over-rated ; still, during the prosperity of the Portuguese mo- 
narchy, it was of real importance to that nation. It furnished 
very large supplies of gold and ivory, and though it never re- 
turned much, if any immediate profitf to the crown, yet it served 
to enrich a great number of individuals, whose wealth ultimately 
reverted to the state. It afforded a valuable place for the Indian 
ships to touch at in the earlier stages of navigation, which was 
then absolutely requisite, and it supplied all the eastern and some 
of the western dominions of the Portuguese with slaves. 
* I have seen a Portuguese silver dollar, on which was inscribed — Rex Portugalis 
et Dom. Orientalis Africse." 
t Vide Don de Menzes' " tractate on the Portugal Indies," in Purchas, Part IL p. 1522, 
a very valuable document relative to the Portuguese eastern possessions. 
