74 
MOSAMBIQUE. 
rising round them, inhabited by free settlers, and have possessed an 
export of cotton, indigo, sugar, and other valuable commodities, 
instead of being surrounded by wretched assemblages of slave- 
huts, woods of cocoa-nut trees, and unprofitable plantations of 
manioca. 
The two distinct classes above-mentioned, consisting of Euro- 
pean Portuguese, and of native planters descended from the 
old settlers, may be estimated at about five hundred with their 
families. Next to these may be enumerated the descendants 
of the old Arab settlers and the Banians ; the former are mostly 
engaged in a sea-faring life ; and the latter are in general petty 
traders, or mean artizans :* both together may amount to about 
eight hundred in number. The remainder of the population, 
consisting of free blacks, and native soldiers whom I have before 
described, may, in addition, amount to about one thousand five 
hundred. The necessity of employing the latter arose from the 
small degree of reliance to be placed on the services of Europeans, 
whose free mode of living and debauchery soon render them in 
this climate incapable of active exertion. It is even said, that 
not more than seven soldiers out of a hundred survive after a ser- 
vice of five years ; and that nearly the same proportion holds 
* The following passage from Captain Weatherhead's Journal is admirably characteristic 
of this people— They are a very unpleasant people to trade with, especially for an Euro- 
" pean unaccustomed to their manners. They will offer about half the value of an article 
" at first — then examine into every particular of quantity and quality — go away — return 
and offer a little more— and so continue to proceed till their conduct becomes almost 
unbearable : when they do make a purchase they generally take the whole quantity to 
secure a monopoly. Several of them agreed for goods ; but as I would not let them be 
taken away without payment, they never were sent for, being, as it appeared, wanting in 
" funds, which is a general complaint on the island." 
