78 
MOSAMBIQUE. 
every thing, except the muskets and six half-barrels of powder. 
It is my opinion that the whole of these islands will in a few 
years become desolate, unless they receive more efFectaal assist- 
ance. It deserves particular notice, that, though this people has 
been plundered of the greater part of its cattle by these savage 
enemies, who destroyed those for which they had themselves no 
occasion, they nevertheless keep the few which remain for the 
use of the East India Company's ships, never killing any for 
their own consumption, it being expressly prohibited by the 
King, who looks up to the Company as his only friends/* 
The facts above mentioned appear to me to constitute strong 
grounds for an appeal to the generosity, I had almost said justice, 
of the English nation, and I cannot help expressing a sanguine 
hope that the cause of the poor Johannese may not be much 
longer neglected ; for while we are in possession of the Isles 
of France and the Cape of Good Hope, the expeditions of their 
cruel enemy might, I conceive, be readily put a stop to. 
Encouraged by their success against the Johannese, the Marati 
last year actually ventured across the channel and took posses- 
sion of.jone of the islands of Querimbo, destroyed the houses, 
burnt the cocoa-nut groves and plantations, and killed every 
inhabitant that fell into their power. Their force is said to have 
consisted of about one thousand canoes, (which number, however, 
is probably exaggerated,) each containing about thirty armed 
men. 
Nothing can be more terrible than the character which is 
attributed to these marauders. They carry cresses like the Malays, 
from whom possibly they may be descended, and exhibit in their 
