'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎262] (439/524)

262 OBSERVATIONS AND ENQUIRIES MADE DURING A
trade unsafe^while repeated applications to the parent country for assist-
ance were treated with neglect. At Inhambane, the Governor and all
the inhabitants, with the exception of ten, were murdered by the natives ;
in 1834 and in 1.836, a similar tragedy was only avoided by the acci
dental presence of an English vessel of war. The Captain-Major of the
mainland of the district made an attempt to avenge these outrages, and
with a few soldiers and friendly natives went to meet the Zulus, and
oive them battle ; not a single man of the Portuguese remained alive
upon the field.
37. Shortly afterwards Mozambique was blockaded by two English
brigs of war, in consequence of the Governor having failed to carry out
the convention for the suppression of the slave trade. The new Governor
M a vim bo strove hard to abolish this infamous traffic, but he met with
the most determined opposition from the inhabitants of the city, the
public officers included,
38. During the past ten years there have been repeated risings of
the blacks against the whites, and even of the troops and inhabitants
against the authorities. Communication with Sena and Lete has
o
frequently been interrupted. Sofalla, Inhambane and Lorenco Marques
have suffered ail the horrors of war and intestine disorder, Quillimaue
was depopulated by famine, and Mozambique has been ravaged by
disease and hurricanes.
39. The heavy duties and obstructive fiscal arrangements of the
Portuguese have almost annihilated trade, and until very lately no
traffic but that of ivory and slaves w r as deemed worthy of attention.
Thanks to the energetic measures of the British Government and its
cruisers, and I firmly believe to the uprightness and loyalty of the pre
sent Governor-General, Colonel Joao Tavarez de Almeida, the slave
trade has greatly decreased, though the desire to participate in its unholy
gains remains unabated.
40. It is difficult, especialty for a British official, to obtain correct
information on this point, hut it is commonly believed that two Euro
pean vessels have succeeded in obtaining cargoes during the past twelve
or fourteen months, while small numbers of slaves are constantly taken
away by dhows, touching at unfrequented parts of the coast. One
Spanish vessel, the America” is now supposed to be watching for an
opportunity to obtain a cargo. I left her at Zanzibar, she had previously
J fcs II
«. Mr
9
\ fflfcritatiTf
general
®hce bi