End of the Middle-Ages View of Mozambique Island by the Portuguese.

Taken from: Da Ásia de João de Barros, dos feitos que os Portuguezes fizeram no descubrimento e conquista dos mares e terras do Oriente ;  João de Barros 1552. (first decade)

 

(in 1498)

…… after a few days they (Vasco da Gama) reached a town called Mozambique, and went to land on some islands separated from it, a little more than a league (5.5km) into the sea. The islanders, who now call themselves of S. Jorge (Sint George Island) because this was the name which Vasco da Gama gave it, saw three or four boats coming, which are locally called zambucos (Sambuk; is a type of dhow, a traditional wooden sailing vessel), with long palm sails, and by rowing. The people of whom came dancing and singing, the best of whom were well treated (this festive arrival is also mentioned at Kilwa by Ibn Majid in 1470), and among them were white men with caps on their heads and dressed in cotton like the Moors of Africa, which was a great pleasure for us. When the boats arrived at Vasco da Gama's ship, one of those well-dressed men stood up and began asking Aravigo who the people were and what they were doing here? To what Vasco da Gama sent a reply to Fernao Martins saying that they were Portuguese vassals of the King of Portugal; and as for what they were looking for, after they knew whose town that town was, they would respond to that. The Moor who spoke (as was later learned) was a native of the Kingdom of Fez; and seeing that the costume of ours was not that of Turks, as they thought they were saying the truth; and as a happy man, expressing joy at this arrival, he replied that that town was called Mozambique, of which a Lord called Cacoeja (Zacoeja) was the Sheikh: whose custom was, that if foreign ships arrived there to order what they wanted from them; and if they were merchants, they would deal on land; or were they sailors who sailed to another place, to find out what was there. Vasco da Gama responded to these words, saying that the reason of coming to that port was a passage to India to do some business, to which ElRey the Lord sent him, mainly with ElRey of Calicut; and since he had not made that journey, he asked him, to tell the Sheikh, to send him a Pilot from those parts, and he would pay him very well. And as for the business of dealing, he didn't bring goods for that, he brought some things to exchange for them, there was what was necessary, and everything else was something to give to the Kings and Lords, from whom he received good treatment; and because he was able to find him there, he was bringing some news to the Sheikh, which he wanted to send to him so that he could find what was in the land where he came from. The Moor, as an experienced man, responded attentively, saying that all those words he would say to his Lord; and if any faith wanted to send it, he would take it from there; and as for the Pilot, let him be saved, because there were many there who helped navigate India. Vasco da Gama, with the ease that the Moor demonstrated, and as soon as he gave it to him, immediately ordered some goods that were taken in at the Island of Madeira to the Sheikh, and he gave him a bag of grain, and other useful things, with which he left happy.

(They bought lots of supplies; but did not receive a Pilot)

 

(Description of Mozambique island on the first voyage of Vasco da Gama 1498)

The sand-bank lay in front of the village, a little out of touch with it, which was located in a piece of land surrounded by shallow water, like the island, all low land and marshy, which made her to be very sickly, whose houses were laughable, foremost a mosque, and those of the Sheikh, which were made of mud with roofs on top. The settlers, who were Moors, came from outside, who made that town a stopover for the City of Quiloa, when going to Cofala, which was behind; the land here was poorly treated, and the natives, who were black with wild hair, like those from Guinea, lived on the mainland.

 

Taken from: A description of the coasts of East Africa and Malabar, in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Duarte Barbosa 1514. Transl Stanley.

 

MOZAMBIQUE ISLAND.

 

Having passed this town of Anguox (Angoche), on the way to India, there are very near to the land three islands, one of which is inhabited by Moors, and is called Mozambique. It has a very good port, and all the Moors touch there who are sailing to Sofala, Zuama (Kuvama mentioned by Ibn Majid 1470), or Anguox. Amongst these Moors there is a sheriff, who governs them, and does justice. These are of the language and customs of the Moors of Anguox in which island the King of Portugal now holds a fort, and keeps the said Moors under his orders and government.

At this island (Mozambique) the Portuguese ships provide themselves with water and wood, fish and other kinds of provisions; and at this place they refit those ships which stand in need of repair. And from this island likewise the Portuguese fort in Sofala draws its supplies, both of Portuguese goods and of the produce of India, on account of the road being longer by the mainland.

Opposite this island there are many very large elephants and wild animals. The country is inhabited by Gentiles, brutish people who go naked and smeared all over with colored clay, and their natural parts wrapped in a strip of blue cotton stuff, without any other covering; and they have their lips pierced with three holes in each lip, and in these holes they wear bones stuck in, and claws, and small stones, and other little things dangling from them.

 

Taken from: Álvaro Velho: Roteiro da primeira viagem de Vasco da Gama. (1497-1499).

Álvaro Velho was on board but left on the return at Sierra Leone.

 

[Moçambique]

On Friday morning [March 2] Nicolau Coelho, when attempting to enter the bay, mistook the channel and came upon a bank. When putting about ship, towards the other ships which followed in his wake, Coelho perceived some sailing boats approaching from a village on this island, in order to welcome the captain-major and his brother. As for ourselves we continued in the direction of our proposed anchorage, these boats following us all the while, and making signs for us to stop. When we had cast anchor in the road-stead of the island from which these boats had come, there approached seven or eight of them, including Almadias (dug-out) the people in them playing upon anafils (Arabic, el Nafir, a sort of straight Moorish trumpet or tuba) They invited us to proceed further into the bay, offering to take us into port if we desired it. Those among them who boarded our ships ate and drank what we did, and went their way when they were satisfied. (This festive arrival is also mentioned at Kilwa by Ibn Majid in 1470). …..

 

……… The people of this country are of a ruddy complexion and well made. They are Mohammedans, and their language is the same as that of the Moors. Their dresses are of fine linen or cotton stuffs, with variously colored stripes, and of rich and elaborate workmanship. They all wear toucas (head-dress fastened under the chin) with borders of silk embroidered in gold. They are merchants, and have transactions with white Moors, four of whose vessels were at the time in port, laden with gold, silver, cloves, pepper, ginger, and silver rings, as also with quantities of pearls, jewels, and rubies, all of which articles are used by the people of this country. We understood them to say that all these things, with the exception of the gold, were brought thither by these Moors; that further on, where we were going to, they abounded, and that precious stones, pearls and spices were so plentiful that there was no need to purchase them as they could be collected in baskets. All this we learned through a sailor the captain-major had with him, and who, having formerly been a prisoner among the Moors, under- stood their language.

 

These Moors, moreover, told us that along the route which we were about to follow we should meet with numerous shoals; that there were many cities along the coast, and also an island, one half the population of which consisted of Moors and the other half of Christians, who were at war with each other. This island was said to be very-wealthy.

 

We were told, moreover, that Prester John resided not far from this place; that he held many cities along the coast, and that the inhabitants of those cities were great merchants and owned big ships. The residence of Prester John was said to be far in the interior, and could be reached only on the back of camels. These Moors had also brought hither two Christian captives from India. This information, and many other things which we heard, rendered us so happy that we cried with joy, and prayed God to grant us health, so that we might behold what we so much desired. In this place and island of Moncobiquy [Moçambique] there resided a chief [senhor] who had the title of Sultan, and was like a vice-roy. ………

 

……… The vessels of this country are of good size and decked. There are no nails, and the planks are held together by cords, as are also those of their boats (barcos). The sails are made of palm-matting. Their mariners have Genoese needles (compass), by which they steer, quadrants, and navigating charts.

 

The palms of this, country yield a fruit as large as a melon, of which the kernel is eaten. It has a nutty flavor. There also grow in abundance melons and cucumbers, which were brought to us for barter.

 

…….. we were taking with us many fowls, goats and pigeons, which had been given us in exchange for small glass-beads. ………

……… the ambassador (of Moçambique) was a white Moor and sharif, that is priest, and at the same time a great drunkard.

Whilst at this place a Moor with his little son came on board one of our ships, and asked to be allowed to accompany us, as he was from near Mecca, and had come to Moçambique as pilot of a vessel from that country.

 

……… After dinner we started in our boats, in the hope of being able to make a few prisoners, whom we might exchange for the two Indian Christians whom they held captive and the negro who had deserted. With this object in view we chased an almadia (dug-out), which belonged to the sharif and was laden with his chattels, and another in which were four negroes. The latter was captured by Paulo da Gama, whilst the one laden with chattels was abandoned by the crew as soon as they reached the land. We took still another almadia which had likewise been abandoned. The negroes we took on board our ships. In the almadias we found fine cotton-stuffs, baskets made of palm-fronds, a glazed jar containing butter, glass phials with scented water, books of the Law, a box containing skeins of cotton, a cotton net, and many small baskets filled with millet. ………

 

Taken from: History of the Discovery and Conquest of India by the Portuguese, between the years 1497 and 1505, from the original Portuguese of Hernan Lopez de Castaneda.

 

………. In this powerful squadron they carried out the materials of a third caravel, which was directed to be put together at Mozambique, and of which Hernand Rodrigues Badarsas was appointed to be commander. Besides this first fleet of seventeen sail, a smaller squadron of five ships remained in preparation at Lisbon, which sailed on the 5th of May under the command of Stephen de la Gama.

 

…………… At Mozambique he made friendship with the king, who had proved so unfriendly in the first voyage, and even obtained leave to settle a factor with several assistants, who were left on purpose to provide victuals for such ships as might touch here on the voyage to or from India. Here likewise the caravel destined for that purpose was set up and provided with ordnance and a sufficient crew, and was left for the protection of the factory.

 

Taken from: Three Voyages of Vasco da Gama, and his Viceroyalty. From the Lendas da India of Gaspar Correa (1492-1563); accompanied by original documents. Transl Stanley.

(First Voyage of Vasco da Gama 1498)

 

March of 1498.

(Entering the harbor of Mozambique). …… they found a good bottom and the road-stead sheltered from the sea winds. They saw on shore a large town of houses covered with thatch …… (the Cafres and the Moor went to the shore). The Moor was surrounded by very many people, and so he went to the house -of the Sheikh, who is the captain of the country on behalf of the King of Quiloa, and who was in this town as agent collecting the duties from the merchant ships, which are many in number, and come from many countries, with much goods of various kinds which they trade within this town of Mozambique, and they pay large duties; and with these goods they go along the coast, and up many rivers which they find, in which they effect much barter of silver and gold, ivory and wax; especially in Sofala, where they carry on extensive barter of the gold which is in that country, in which these merchants trade; and they are almost all of them Moors, and being thus traders, on account of their extensive commerce they remain like natives of the country; and the greater number of the kings and rulers of all these countries are Moors of the sect of Mahomed. ……

(The sheikh of Mozambique comes to visit the ships) ……

In the afternoon the Sheikh came to the ship in two canoes lashed together, and upon them poles and planks, covered over with mats which gave shade : in this came ten Moors sitting down, and the Sheikh sitting on a low round stool, covered with a silk cloth, and a cushion on which he sat; he was a dark man, well-made, and of good presence, and was dressed in a jacket of Mekkah velvet with many plaits, and a blue cloth with braid and gold thread, wrapped round him, which covered him to the knees, and drawers of white stuff down to the ankles, and the body bare; above the cloth wrapped round him was a silk sash, in which he wore a dagger mounted with silver, and in his hand a sword, also mounted with silver. On his head he wore a turban of silk stuff of many colors, with braid and fringes of gold thread, wrapped round a dark colored skull-cap of Mekkah velvet. The Moors who came with him were dressed in the same fashion; they were fair men, and dark men, and others swarthy, because they were sons of Cafre women of the country and white Moorish merchants who since a long time have established their commerce throughout all the countries of India, ……………

 

(Second voyage of Vasco da Gama 1502)

(Arrival at Mozambique)

From the shore people brought what they had to sell, which they paid for well, to the satisfaction of the owners. As soon as the captain-major arrived at Mozambique, the Sheikh at once went to the ship with a present of cows and sheep, goats and fowls, which he had ready for him, for he already knew that he was the first Portuguese with whom he had had war.