Volume 1

A new general collection of voyages and travels. Consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

Date:: 1745-1747

Credit: A new general collection of voyages and travels. Consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Cape Coil cnees. 1498. Hens for the General, who returned Thanks, and De Gama, called it. The Land of good People. The Houfes of the Town were all of Straw, and well furnifh- ed ; the Females were more numerous than the Males; for among twenty Men there were forty Women. Their Weapons are long Bows, with Arrows and Darts of Iron. On their Arms and Legs they wear Copper Bracelets, and Pieces of Copper in their Hair: They have alfo Daggers, the Hafts or Handles of Pewter, and the Sheaths of Ivory ; whence it appears, that the Country affords Plenty of Copper and Tin. They make Salt of Sea Water, which they carry in Gourds, to Pits dug for that Purpofe. They were fo fond of Linen, that they gave a large Quantity of Copper for a Shirt; and fo tractable, that they brought Water to the Boats, from a River called Cobio, a Quarter of a Mile diftant from the Place, where the Portuguese took in Water. Departing the fifteenth of January, they went on along a low Coaft, full of very high arid large Trees, as far as Cabo de Corientes, or The Cape of Currents ; and without feeing the Town of Sofala, they went on fifty Leagues beyond ; and on the twenty-fourth, came into a River very wide at the Entrance. Here De Gama and Coello went up in their Boats. The Land was low like the former, and covered with Water, abounding in tall Trees, loaden with Variety of Fruits: Farther on they found feveral Boats, with Sails made of Palm. It was an Encouragement to the Portu¬ guese to fee thefe People, in Regard they under- ilood fomething of Sailing ; a Thing they had not met with before in all thefe Coafts. The Natives came in their Boats to the Ships, which they entered without any Fear, and behaved as familiarly as if the Portuguese had been old Ac¬ quaintance: They were of a good Size, but black, and went naked, with only a Piece of Linen Cloth hanging before. They were kindly ufed «v:s Sinays,by the General, who gave them little Bells, and Cuama.ot]ler Things, talking with them by Signs; for none on board underftood their Language. After this, they returned in their Boats with others, bringing Provifions; and more came along the Water Side, among whom, were fome pretty handfome Women, drefied like the Men. Each had three Holes in her Lips, with three Bits of Rio de Eu Tin in them, which is a mighty Fafhion there. They took with them fome of the Portuguese to make merry at a neighbouring Town, where they got their Water. The third Dav, two Noble¬ men came in their Boats tovifit the General, ap¬ parelled no better than the reft, only their Aprons were larger. One of them wore on his Head an 1408. Handkerchief wrought with Silk, and the other De Gama, a green Sattin Capa. De Gama received them v—— courteoufly, inviting them to cat, and gave them Apparel, with other Things: But they feemed by their Looks, to fet no Value on them. How¬ ever, it appeared from certain Signs made by a young Man, that they were of a diftant Country, and bad feen as large Ships as thofe they were then in. When they were landed, they fent fome Pieces of Calico to fell. De Gama rejoiced at thefe lucky Tokens, called this River Rio deBuenas Sinays, or of good Signs, and eredled a Mark. Here they alfo brought their Ships aground and repaired them. Mean while, many of the Men fickened, through the Badnefs of the Air, or Pro¬ vifions; their Hands and Feet being bloated, and their Gums fwelling out of their Adouths, that they could not eat ; but rotting, the Stench that proceeded from them, was intolerable: For this there was no Cure but Cutting, and many died thereof. They left the River of Good Signs the twenty- Moxamtfi, fourth of January. Next Day they palled by three Illands, two of them full of Trees. The firft of March, they faw four Illands, two near the Shore ; from one of which there came forth feven or eight Zambucos, or little Boats, which following the Ships, called out, and made Signs, that they might ftay for them. As foon as they were at Anchor, the Boats came up: The People in them were of a good Stature, fomewhat black, cloathed with Calico, ftriped with feveral Colours, fome wearing it clofe to their Knees, and others on their Shoulders like Cloaks; and on their Pleads Linen [Turbans] wrought with Silk and Gold. TMy had Swords and Daggers like the Moors \ and brought with them their Inftruments called Sagbuts. They came aboard, and con¬ vened as freely as thofe before-mentioned, fpeak- ing in the Language of Algaravia [or Arabic] nor would be thought to be Moors. They eat and drank heartily. Being alked by one, who fpoke the Language, What Country that was ? They faid, it belonged to a great King, and that the Ifland was called Mozambik, where there was a Town full of Merchants, who traded with the Moors of India for Spices, Precious Stones, and other Commodities; offering to conduct the Ships into the Harbour. Whereupon Coello, having the leaft Ship, was fent to found the Bar, which he parted, after ftriking near the Entrance, and anchored a Quarter of a Mile from the Town fituated in that Ifland. 1 De Faria y Soufa gives a fomewhat different Account: He fays, the People of this River were not fo black as the others, and underl'cood the Arabic Language; that the Portuguese judged them to be more civilized by the Habit they wore, which confided of divers Sorts of Stuffs, both Cotton and Silk, of feveral Colours ; andt that they were told by them, that to the Eaftward lived white People, who failed in Ships like theirs. Th is$