The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. XVI.

Continues the Government of Francis Bar∣reto in Monomotapa.

1. SUch was the Country whether the Go∣vernour Francis Barreto was now going, he set out from Mozambique with more Ves∣sels than he brought and more Men, Tools, Camels, Horses, and other necessaries for War, and for the work of the Mines; hav∣ing Sailed Ninety Leagues, he went up the River Cuama, called by our first discoverer De las buenas sennales, he came to Sena, or Fort St. Marcalis, as F. Monclaros desired, and repaired the Town Inaparapala, which is near to another of the Moors, they being always professed Enemies to the Christians, began to undermine our designs, as they had formerly done in India; they attempted to poyson our Army, and some Men and Horses began to Die, and the cause being disco∣vered by one of them, they were all put to the Sword, and the Chief of them torn to pieces at the mouths of Guns, except one (called Mahomet Iame) who affirming the Blessed Virgin had appeared to him, and

commanded him to become a Christian, by the name of Lawrence; he had the favour to be strangled. The discoverer was par∣doned.

2. Barreto sent an Embassador to the Em∣peror, who for the more honour admitted him to his Presence, not as other Embassa∣dors were treated at this Court, which is to go without Arms, bare-footed, on their Knees, and when they come near, prostrating them∣selves on the ground. The effect of the Embassy was to desire leave to punish the King of Mongas who was in Rebellion, and go on to the Mines of Butua and Manchica: The first part was a piece of flattery, to obtain the second, because the Lands of Mongas lie between Sena and the Mines, and it was necessary to make way with the Sword. He consented to all, and offered One hun∣dred thousand Men; Bareto accepted not of them, because he would give him no share in the Honour gained in that War, and thinking thereby to oblige him the more.

3. He marched ten Days with Twenty three Horse, and Five hundred and sixty Musquetiers, (enduring much by Hunger and Thirst) for the most part along the River Zambeze, over whose most rapid stream hang pieces of the high Mountain Lupata, ninety Leagues distant from the Ethiopian Sea. At the end of this tedious march, they began to discover part of the Enemy, and soon after saw the-Mountains and Valleys covered with Arm'd Men, the Governor was not daunted, seeing it was

hard to discover the end of that multitude, he drew up, and gave the Van to Vasco Fer∣nando Homem, he had the Rear, and between the bodies was the baggage, and some Field pieces; when they came to charge, he re∣moved the Canon to the Front and Flanks, the two unequal bodies advanced, the Ene∣my in the sorm of a half-Moon; before they engaged, an old Woman advanced and scat∣tered some Powder towards our Men, having perswaded the Enemy (she was a notorious Witch) that that Powder alone would gain the Victory.

4. Barreto understanding the superstition, having seen t•…•…e like in India, ordered a Gun∣ner to level a •…•…iece at her; which was so well performed, the old Woman was torn to pieces; the Cafres were astonished, be∣lieving her immortal. Barreto rewarded the Gunner with a Gold Chain; the Enemy ad∣vance without order, either through igno∣rance, or relying on their multitude, and clouds of Arrows and Darts begin to fly, but our Musquetiers killing them by Hun∣dreds, they turned their backs, many were killed in the pursuit, and then our Men or∣dered to halt; the Governor marches to the City Mongas, and meets another multitude like the former, which in like manner was put to flight, above Six thousand Cafres were slain, and two of our Men, and the Gover∣nor was sorced to alight and lead his Men; the City was entered without opposition, being abandoned, our Men entrench'd, and in the Morning discovered an Army as great

as both the former; the Cafres were again routed, and beg'd peace in the King's name. The Governor received the Messenger with such Majesty, that he was astonished, and could not speak; being come to himself, and having delivered his Message, Barreto promised he would see the King, and mat ters should be adjusted.

5. The next Day our Men marched and incamped in a convenient place where Em∣bassadors came from the King to treat of Peace. It happened one of our Camels broke loose and came so near the Gover∣nor, that he stoped him till they came up that were in pursuit of him; •…•…e Cafres hav∣ing never seen such a Beast, admired it stop∣ped at the Governor, thinking it some sub∣mission it made to him, and began to ask some questions. He making his advantage of their ignorance, told them, he had many of those Beasts that only fed upon Man's flesh, and having devoured all that were killed, that Beast came from the rest to desire he would not make Peace, because they would come to want Food; they astonished hereat, earnestly intreated him, he would desire the Camels to be satisfied with good Beef, and they would instantly bring them a great number. He granted their request, and marched on. He was in great distress for Pro∣vision when news came his presence was re∣quired at Mocambique. He gave the Com∣mand of the Forces to Vasco, and departed•…•… The cause was this,

6. Antony Pereyra Brandam, who at the Molucos had committed Crimes that deserved the severest punishment, in Portugal was con∣demned to banishment into Africk; he de∣sired the Governor he might be permitted to go with him to Monomotapa; he did it, and being come to Moçambique, gave him the Command of that Fort. Brandam, though Eighty Years of Age, and under such obli∣gations, resolved to secure himself in the Fort, and defame Francis Barreto with false informations sent to the King: the Original Papers fell into the Governor's Hands, who being come to Moçambique, showed them to him, and he falling down and kissing his Feet begg'd Pardon; Barreto lifted up and forgave him, then giving the Command of the Fort to Laurence Godino, returned to prosecute his design.

7. Our Governor being come to the Fort of Sena, F. Monclaros came out in a great rage to tell him, he should desist from that Conquest, with which he had imposed upon the King, that no more Men might be lost, for he should be answerable to God for what had, and should die. It was most certain, Barreto was not the promoter of that Con∣quest, and Monclaros was in fault for all the miscarriage that had been committed; Bar∣reto took this insolence so much to Heart, that he died within two Days without any other Sickness, breathing out his Soul in sighs. Doubtless the Jesuit had more to an∣swer for his death, than he, for the miscarri∣ages the Jesuit was guilty of.

8. King Sebastian much resented this loss, and particularly expressed it by the honou∣rable Reception he made to his Body when brought to Lisbon. So this great Man ha∣ving escaped so many Bullets among the In∣dians, so many Darts and Arrows among the Cafres, and the Malice of a Villain, fell by the Words of a religious Man.