He
Then Reappears On The Ninth Day, And Orders The Noble For Whom He Has
Least Affection To Be Slain, As A Sacrifice To His Ancestors, Or The
Muzimos.
When this is done, the drums cease, and every one goes home.
The Mumbos[396] eat human flesh, which is publicly sold in the
shambles.
This may suffice for the customs of the natives in the empire
of Monomotapa, as it would be endless to recount the whole.
[Footnote 396: This savage race are said to inhabit on the north western
frontiers of Mocaranga. - E.]
After some stay at Mozambique, Barreto set out on his expedition for the
mines of Monomotapa, with men, horses, camels, and other necessaries for
war, and with proper tools for working the mines which he expected to
conquer. He sailed up the river Cuama, called Rio de los buenos
Sennales, or river of Good Signs; by the first discoverers, and came to
Sena or the fort of St Marzalis, according to the desire of father
Monclaros; whence he proceeded to the town of Inaparapala, near which
is another town belonging to the Moors, who, being always professed
enemies to the Christians, began to thwart the designs of the Portuguese
as they had formerly done in India. They even attempted to poison the
Portuguese army, and some of the men and horses actually died in
consequence; but the cause being discovered by one of the Moors, they
were all put to the sword, their chiefs being blown from the mouths of
cannon, the informer only being pardoned. After this Barreto sent an
embassy to the king, desiring permission to march against the chief of
the Mongas, who was then in rebellion, and from thence to continue his
march to the mines of Butua and Mancica. The first of these requests
was a piece of flattery to obtain leave for the other, as the province
of the Mongas lay between Sena and the mines, and it was necessary to
march thither by force of arms. The king gave his consent to both
requests, and even offered to send 100,000 of his own men along with the
Portuguese; but Barreto declined any assistance, wishing to have the
whole honour of the war to himself, and thinking by that means to gain
favour with the king. He accordingly marched with 23 horse and 560 foot
armed with muskets; and after a march of ten days, mostly along the
rapid river Zambeze, in which the troops suffered excessively from
hunger and thirst, the enemy were descried covering the hills and
vallies with armed men. Though the multitude of the enemy was so great
that the extremity of their army could not be seen, Barreto marched on
giving the command of the van to Vasco Fernandez Homem, while he led the
rear in person, the baggage and a few field pieces being in the centre.
On coming up to engage the cannon were removed to the front and flanks.
The enemy were drawn up in the form of a crescent; and as the Portuguese
marched to the charge, an old woman came forward to meet them scattering
some powder towards them, having persuaded the enemy that she alone
would gain the victory by virtue of that powder.
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