The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
He.

With the doubtful exception Of the visit Of an
occasional Arab slave dealer, these Bantu
negroes, themselves comparatively newcomers,
had no contact with the outer world until the
arrival Of the Portuguese on the cast coast of
Africa. which is the first definite landmark in
the written history Of this portion Of the con.
tinent Vasco da Cana. after rounding the
Cape of Good Hope in 14s5. stopped at the Arab
settlements OF Sofala tnear the modern Beira)
and Mozambique. and thence passed onward to
Mslindi tnear Mombasa) and India. On his re-
turn from India he further explored the south
east coast OF Africa. and in January. l4as prob
ably from information given by Arab pilo,s,,
entered with his little feet the Oueli.
name River. which was connected inter
mittently with the main Zambezi, and
which. indeed. until the other day, was
supposed to be the only certain means of reach.
ing the Zambezi above its delta. This river he
called the River Of Good Indications" The
name Quelimanc, which he applied to a small vii.
lage twelve miles inland from the mouth OF tho
river THE origin OF the now important town of
ouelimane. the capital OF Portuguese Zambezia,,
seems to have been derived from the coast
Arabic term for interpreter. which was given to
Vasco da Gama's guide and go-between.
FOR some fve centuries before the Portuguese
arrived, the Arabs of southern and eastern Ara
bia had formed or reformed settlements along
the east coast of Africa from Somaliland to So
fala. The word reformed seems the more cor
rect, because we are now practically certain
that some races OF Southern Arabia had founded
ancient settlements, possibly in connection with
tho Phnnicians. In Southeastern Africa, not
only on the cast coast, but far in the interior of
Mashonaland. These settlements were, II is
presumed, destroyed by the advent Of tho
Bantu tribes from tho north, who vere
far moro formidable enemies than the fee
Bile Bushmen and Hottentots. 1t Is pro-
nounced possible that the natives Of Arabia
did not entirely give up their African trade.
although they had to quit the interior and con-
hne their settlements to the coast, but, whether
or no there was q lull in Arab enterprise during
the early part OF the Christian era, there was a
great revival In tho tenth century, and. In the
eleventh.. q strong Arab kingdom was formed
at Kilwa midway between Zanzibar and Mo-
Zambique), which exercised a kind OF suzerainty
over the other settlements or Sultanatea.
Mosques were built at this period. the remains
OF which may DO seen at the present day. Tho
Arab settlements founded at this time in the
direction Of British Central Africa were chiefly
established at Mozambique. Ngoji iAnRoche,.
and Sena on the Zambezi. The Arabs. APP
parently. found no direct entrance into tho
lambert River. and preferred to use the Oueli.
name River. which could be easily navieated By
their dhows, This, In exceptionally rainy sea-
sons even at the present day. becomes con.
nected with the Zambezi River by overflow
creeks; and. possibly, some centuries ago was
tho most northern branch OF the delta. The
Arabs seem then to have gone up this river, past
the village of Quelimsne. and then to nave
travelled either by water when the river WAS
full, or overland at other seasons. to Sena. a sat.
Element not far from tho junction OF the Fam.
bezi and the Shire. From Sena. again, they