862 
THE EASTERN COAST. 
with much less danger and difficulty than the 
crew had apprehended. Finding the coast now 
bend inwards, he kept carefully out to sea, lest 
he should be entangled in the depth of some 
large bay ; and by this means he missed Sofala, 
the great emporium of those seas. He touched, 
however, at the mouth of a large river, where the 
sailors, who were tired of seeing nothing but ne- 
gro visages as black as jet, recognized with plea- 
sure a mixed colour, and found some individuals 
who were understood by their Arabic interpreter. 
The intercourse was amicable ; and they were 
assured, that, on proceeding to the eastwards, 
they would find civilized nations who navigated 
in large vessels, and could easily furnish the pilots 
required. Having arrived accordingly at Mo- 
sambique, they cast anchor at some islands near 
the mouth of the harbour. Three or four boats 
soon came out, having on board white men dress- 
ed in caps and cotton robes, and who were sing- 
ing and playing on musical instruments. These 
boats having come up, a leading man on board 
inquired in Arabic who they were, and what they 
wanted. On being informed that they were sub-* 
jects of the king of Portugal, a cloud came over 
his countenance, which was supposed to arise 
from learning that they were Christians. They 
afterwards learned that he was a native of Fez^ 
and, consequently, deeply imbued with the en- 
