56 BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 
from the term “ Interpreter,” applied to this guide and go-between of Vasco 
da Gama. 
For some five centuries before the Portuguese arrived the Arabs of 
Southern and Eastern Arabia had formed or re-formed settlements along the 
East Coast of Africa from Somaliland to Sofala. 1 In the direction of British 
Central Africa they were chiefly established at Mozambique, Ngoji (Angoche), 
and Sena on the Zambezi. They apparently found no direct entrance into the 
Zambezi River which could be easily navigated by their daus, and preferred 
to use the Ouelimane River. This in exceptional rainy seasons at the present 
day becomes connected with the Zambezi river, by overflow creeks; and 
possibly some centuries ago was the most northern branch of the delta. The 
Arabs would seem, therefore, to have gone up this river past Ouelimane, and 
then to have travelled either by water when the river was full, or overland 
at other seasons, to Sena, a settlement not far from the junction of the Zambezi 
and the Shire. From Sena again they had overland communication to their 
settlements at Sofala, near the modern town of Beira. 2 
At first the Portuguese were received by the Arabs in a friendly fashion, and 
several of the Portuguese were taken up by Arab guides from Ouelimane to 
Sena. Before many years 3 were over the Portuguese had dispossessed the 
Arabs, and driven them away. From Sofala to Mozambique they replaced 
them so completely, with the exception of their settlements at Angoche, 4 that 
they disappeared entirely and never returned, even after the temporary decay 
of the Portuguese power which enabled the Arabs to reconquer the East Coast 
of Africa as far south as Kilwa. 
At first Sena, on the Lower Zambezi, was the headquarters of the Portu¬ 
guese Administration, and from hence various expeditions, during the sixteenth 
century, were sent southwards to discover the gold mines of Manika—expedi¬ 
tions which were mostly unsuccessful, owing to the unhealthiness of the climate 
and the presence of the Tsetse fly. Another obstacle in the way of Portuguese 
enterprise was the kingdom of Monomotapa, 5 a powerful empire of Bantu 
negroes, probably related in stock to the Zulus. The influence of Monomotapa 
must have ranged from the vicinity of the south end of Lake Nyasa to the 
Limpopo River. Simultaneously with the first Portuguese “ Conquistadores ” 
1 I say “re-formed” because we are now practically certain that some races of Southern Arabia had 
founded their ancient settlements—possibly in connection with the Phoenicians—in South-eastern Africa, 
not only on the East Coast but far in the interior of Mashonaland. These settlements were, it is supposed, 
destroyed by the advent of the Bantu tribes from the North, who were far more formidable enemies to 
tackle than the feeble Bushmen and Hottentots. It is possible that the natives of Arabia did not entirely 
give up their African trade, though they had to quit the interior and confine their settlements to the coast. 
But whether or no there was a gap in Arab enterprise in the early part of the Christian era, there was a 
great revival in the tenth century, and in the eleventh century a strong Arab kingdom was formed at 
Kilwa (midway between Zanzibar and Mozambique) which exercised a kind of suzerainty over the other 
settlements or Sultanates. Mosques were built at this period, the remains of which may be seen at the 
present day. 
2 Beira was the name given to this place not many years ago by the Portuguese, when it was 
first founded, after Col. Paiva d’Andrada’s explorations of the Pungwe river. “ Beira’’is the name of 
one of the principal provinces of Portugal, and the eldest son of the heir to the throne of Portugal always 
bears the title of “Principe da Beira.” Beira is pronounced “Bay-ra” in Portuguese. Consequently, 
with their usual perversity, the English people have decided to call it “By-ra,” for it is one of our 
national peculiarities to devote all our best energy to a mispronunciation of foreign words. 
3 I believe the Arabs remained in possession of Sena until near the end of the sixteenth century. 
4 Which really remain unconquered to this day. 
5 This name was derived from the native appellation of the Makaranga chief, and is apparently a 
corruption of “ Mwene Mutapa ” = “ Lord Hippopotamus”; or “ Mwana-Mutapa”—“Child of the 
Hippopotamus.” The hippopotamus was much reverenced by the tribes of the Central Zambezi, and 
is so, to some extent, still. 
