oGS THE EASTERN COAST. 
object of supreme attraction — gold. The stores 
of that metal, which came down the Zambese, and 
were exported from Sofala, soon excited their 
eager avidity. In 1505, permission was obtained 
from the king of Sofala to build a fort, which they 
•were soon able to maintain by force. In 1508, 
they erected another at Mosambique, which soon 
became the capital of all their settlements upon 
this coast, and the point where the India ships 
stopped for refreshment. De Barros, however, 
regrets the choice of a situation so extremely un- 
heahhy, that fleets, which an unfavourable mon- 
soon obliged to winter in it, were often left in 
spring without men sufficient for enabling them 
to proceed on their voyage. The ambition of the 
Portuguese now involved them in a long train of 
hostilities, both with the Arabs and with the na- 
tive inhabitants. In the year 1769, the Arabs 
were entirely expelled from Mosambique and So- 
fala, and, at the same time, from all their settle- 
ments on the river Zambese. The Portuguese 
now began to attempt penetrating into the inte- 
rior, in search of the mines containing the gold 
that was brought down to the coast. Don Sebas- 
tian, immediately on his accession, sent out a for- 
midable expedition under Francis Barreto, for the 
purpose of penetrating into the territories of 
Monomotapa and Manica. Barreto seems to have 
possessed all the vigour and enterprise requisite 
