Lesser Western Ocean: East Africa, Part 2

Inhambane

Inhambane original: 英漢門 (Yinghanmen) is bounded by the sea to the east, Sofala to the north, and the territory of Shemonasi original: 舍摩那司 (Shemonasi); likely referring to the regional tribes or the Limpopo area to the southwest. The climate and soil are poor and unhealthy. The indigenous population original: 土番 (tuban) numbers three thousand; they are known for being warlike. There is a Portuguese original: 葡萄亞 (Putuoya) fortress garrisoned by one hundred and fifty soldiers. The region produces dyes, ivory, and yellow wax beeswax, with an annual trade value of no less than 100,000 pounds original: 棒 (bang); a 19th-century phonetic rendering of the British "pound". Furthermore, ships transport "mouths" a historical term for enslaved persons to be sold in Mozambique original: 莫新彌葵 (Moxinmikui). There are more than ten such vessels, each carrying four to five hundred people.

Sofala

Sofala original: 蘇華臘 (Suhuala) is bounded by the sea to the east, Manica original: 麻尼加 (Manijia) to the west, Inhambane to the south, and Mocaranga original: 摩嘉蘭 (Mojialan) to the north. The coastal wilderness borders the sea, but there are few beaches or shoals. Due to the daily rising tides, it is impossible to reach the shore without a small boat. The indigenous people are of the Kaffraria variety original: 加付臘黎阿 (Jiafulalia); a historical term for the Bantu-speaking peoples of Southern Africa; they often carry sharp blades and do not accept colonial restraint. When the Portuguese first arrived, this was a major market town; they constructed a fortress to defend against the indigenous people. The local products—gold and ivory—were all originally transported via the Zambezi River original: 染彌西河 (Ranmixi He) for trade. Now, however, the transport route has been shifted to Quelimane original: 歸爾厘馬 (Guierlima), which is under the jurisdiction of Mozambique.