A Portuguese Officer, Appointed By The
Commander Of Mozambique, Resides At Massapa With The Permission Of The
Emperor Of Monomotapa, But Under The Express Condition Of Not Going Into
The Country, Under Pain Of Death.
He acts as judge of the differences
that arise there.
There are churches belonging to the Dominicans at
Massapa, Bacuto, and Luanze. The origin, number, and chronology of the
kings of Mohomotapa are not known, though it is believed there were
kings here in the time of the queen of Sheba, and that they were subject
to her, as she got her gold from thence. In the mountain of Anfur or
Fura, near Massapa, there are the ruins of stately buildings, supposed
to be those of palaces and castles. In process of time this great
empire was divided into three kingdoms, called Quiteve, Sabanda, and
Chicanga[393], which last is the most powerful, as possessing the
mines of Manica, Butua, and others. It is believed that the negroes of
Butua, in the kingdom of Chicanga, are those who bring gold to Angola,
as these two countries are supposed to be only one hundred leagues
distance from each other [394]. The country of Monomotapa produces rice
and maize, and has plenty of cattle and poultry, the inhabitants
addicting themselves to pasturage and tillage, and even cultivating
gardens. It is divided into 25 kingdoms or provinces named Mongas,
Baroe, Manica, Boese, Macingo, Remo, Chique, Chiria, Chidima, Boquizo,
Inhanzo, Chiruvia, Condesaca, Daburia, Macurumbe, Mungussi, Antiovaza,
Chove, Chungue, Dvia, Romba, Rassini, Chirao, Mocaranga and
Remo-de-Beza.
[Footnote 387: According to modern maps, the Zambeze divides the empire
of Mocaranga, the sovereign of which is called Monomotapa, from the
empire of the Bororos; and the river Chireira or Manzara on the south of
the Zambeze, which it joins, is entirely confined to the country of
Mocaranga. - E.]
[Footnote 388: Sena is 220 English miles from the sea; Tete is 260 miles
higher up: so that this great river is navigable for 480 miles, probably
for small vessels only. - E.]
[Footnote 389: Massapa is the name of a Portuguese fort or settlement on
the river Mocaras, a branch of the Chireira, in the interior of
Mocaranga. Anfur or Fura is a mountain about 100 miles from Massapa,
said to contain rich gold mines. - E.]
[Footnote 390: Luanze is about 100 miles south from Tete, on one of the
branches of the Chireira. - E.]
[Footnote 391: Bacuto is 40 miles south of Luanze. - E.]
[Footnote 392: Massapa is about 45 miles S.S.W. from Buento or Bacuto,
or 170 miles in that direction from Tete. - E]
[Footnote 393: Quiteve is that kingdom or province of Mocaranga, now
named Sofala from the river of that name by which it is pervaded.
Sabanda is probably the kingdom or province of Sabia, on the river of
that name, the southern province of Mocaranga. Chicanga is what is now
called Manica, the south-west province of Mocaranga, the king or chief
of which province is named Chicanga.
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