EXPEDITION TO CHICOVA. 
pear, and was never again seen. The Portuguese 
at first apprehended that he had fallen a sacrifice 
to the vengeance of his countrymen, for having 
opened to them this splendid discovery ; but on 
continuing to work, without finding another par- 
ticle of silver, they soon became sensible how^ the 
affair stood. Barreto's credulity, however, was 
not exhausted. The king of the country having 
undertaken to lead him to the much sought for 
mines, he set out with the bulk of his troops, 
leaving a detachment to defend the fort. The 
Portuguese being then conducted into a narrow 
pass, were suddenly attacked by the natives, who 
were posted on all the neighbouring heights. The 
situation was so disadvantageous, as to render skill 
and valour of no avail ; and very few of the party 
escaped. The fort, having then no garrison ade- 
quate to defend it, was attacked, carried, and all 
the troops put to the sword. 
This was not the only reverse which the Por- 
tuguese sustained. They had a series of terrible 
wars to sustain, from an inroad of the Mumbos 
or Zimbas, a tribe described as resembling the 
Giagas ; as eating human flesh, destroying their 
new-born infants, and living in a continual state 
of wandering and plunder. Being conducted 
with equal valour and skill by their king Muzim- 
bas, they cut off repeated expeditions sent against 
them from Mosambique, At length Muzimbas 
