in the east, the
empire of Monomotapa extends 250 leagues into the interior of Africa,
being divided by the great river Zambeze, into which falls the _Chiri_
or _Chireira_, running through the country of _Bororo_[387], in which
country are many other large rivers, on the banks of which dwell many
kings, some of whom are independent, and others are subject to
Monomotapa. The most powerful of the independent kings is he of Mongas,
bordering on the Cuama or Zambeze, which falls into the sea by four
mouths between Mozambique and Sofala. The first or most northerly of
these mouths is that of _Quilimane_, ninety leagues from Mozambique; the
second or Cuama is five leagues farther south; the third _Luabo_ five
leagues lower; and the fourth named _Luabol_ five leagues more to the
south. Between these mouths are three large and fertile islands; the
middle one, named _Chingoma_, is sixty leagues in circumference. This
great river is navigable for sixty leagues upwards to the town of
_Sena_, inhabited by the Portuguese, and as much farther to _Tete_,
another Portuguese colony [388]. The richest mines are those of
_Massapa_, called _Anfur_[389], the _Ophir_ whence the queen of Sheba
had the riches she carried to Jerusalem. In these mines it is said, that
one lump of gold has been found worth 12,000 ducats, and another worth
40,000. The gold is not only found among the earth and stones, but even
grows up within the bark of several trees as high as where the branches
spread out to form the tops. The mines of Manchica and Butica are not
much inferior to those of Massapa and Fura, and there are many others
not so considerable. There are three fairs or markets which the
Portuguese frequent for this trade of gold from the castle of _Tete_ on
the river Zambeze. The first of these is _Luanze_, four days journey
inland from that place [390]. The second is Bacuto [391] farther off;
and the third _Massapa_ still farther [392]. At these fairs the gold is
procured in exchange for coarse cloth, glass beads, and other articles
of small value among us. 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 M