ALMEYDA. 
367 
settlements at Magadoxo, Melinda, Quiloa, Zam 
zibar, Mosambique, Sofala, and various other 
points. The capital of all these dominions, and 
the centre of commerce^ was Quiloa, a large city 
situated on an island close to the main-land. It 
was built chiefly of stone and lime, with terraces, 
and gardens agreeably planted with trees, though 
the streets were very narrow. 
In 1505, a large fleet, under Don Francisco de 
Almeyda, arrived before this city. The com- 
mander soon succeeded in procuring a quarrel 
with the king of Quiloa. He landed in the night, 
attacked the city at two points, and though the 
natives were enabled, by the narrowness of the 
streets, to make a vigorous resistance, at length 
carried the place, the king flying into the interior. 
He next proceeded to Mombaca, where the re- 
sistance was still more obstinate. After a com- 
bat of two days, he made himself master of the 
town ; but having sustained a severe loss, con- 
soled himself by laying it in ashes ; " when," says 
the historian with true Catholic zeal, " was con- 
" sumed the greater part of that city of abomina- 
" tion." Almeyda then sailed to Melinda, which 
did not offer any resistance. 
The southern part of this coast, however, finally 
became the chief object of attention to the Portu- 
guese. Besides affording stations of refreshment 
for the vessels bound to India, it presented that 
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