MOSAMBIQUE, or MozAmBteo, an island on the east coast of Atrica, and the capital of the Portuguese settlements in that quarter. This island, which resem bles a crescent, with the hollow part towards the sea, measures about two miles and a half in length, and a quarter of a mile in breadth. It is situated in I5° 10' S. latitude, and 41° E. longitude, in the mouth of a bay nearly three miles in circuit, which furnishes a safe and convenient haven for shipping. On the north ex tremity of the island is a strong fort of an octagonal form, furnished with six bastions, and containing 80 pieces of cannon, besides a large howitzer, capable of casting stones of.I00 lbs. weight. The situation is well chosen, and more than thirty of the guns bear upon the entrance into the harbour. In 1608, it resisted a vigor ous attack of the Dutch, who landed in considerable force upon the island ; and, after three weeks of una vailing exertion to reduce the place, were compelled to reimbark with loss. The anchorage is on the north west side of the island, on a flat level sand, well pro tected from the sea, and within a musket-shot of the shore, where there is a very commodious landing-place, with steps on either side of a pier, which extends a con siderable way into the sea. Immediately opposite to the anchorage lies the town of Mosambiquc, occupy ing the central part of the island, and presenting, in the appearance of its buildings and inhabitants, a strange mixture of Indian, Arabian, and European costume. The soil of the island is sandy, and tolerably fertile, yielding rice, millet, pulse, roots, &:e.; but the settle ment depends for its supplies on the peninsula of Ca baceiro, a tract of land about eleven miles long, and four broad, connected with the continent by an isthmus about a mile across, which could be easily rendered se cure against any attack from the interior, were it not that the creek on the south side becomes dry at low water for the space of nearly four miles. On this pe ninsula are several villages and plantations, but none of them displaying much agricultural industry or skill. The principal trees are the cocoa-nut, cashew, mango, papaw, and orange ; and the chief article of cultivation is the manioca root, which constitutes the food of the slaves. A great part of the land still remains unculti vated; but numerous herds of cattle, and vast droves of swine, are reared upon its pastures. A great variety of birds frequent the groves ; and the most curious sea productions abound on the coast, such as star-fish, and sea•flowers of uncommon beauty, sponges of several kinds, sea-priapi, molluscz, muscles, crabs, and oysters, which are said to yield pearls of considerable value. The beach is covered with flamingoes, spoonbills, cur lews, snipes, and larks; large herons, and several spe cies of gulls; and great numbers of slaves arc generally seen at low water employed in collecting the shell-fish. One of the most remarkable of the fishes found on the coast, is the sucking-fish, or remora, which is said to be employed in catching turtles in the following manner : When fastened to the boat with a line, it invariably darts forwards, and fixes itself by its sucker to the first turtle which it meets, holding so strongly as to enable the fish ermen to secure the prey.
The climate of Mosambique, from its oppressive heat and heavy atmosphere, is extremely unhealthy ; and its fatal effects are so much increased by the mode of liv ing, that both among the military and civilians, not more than seven out of a hundred are calculated to survive after a service of five years. With the exception of
the governor and his staff, the greater part of the European settlers are culprits, who have been sentenced to banishment. The native planters, descended from the old settlers, have, in consequence of their dealing in slaves, become vicious, indolent, and careless of improv ing their plantations. Another class consists of the descendants of the old Arab settlers, most of whom are engaged in a seafaring life, and Banian traders and artizans. The remainder of the inhabitants is corn posed of the free blacks and native soldiers ; and the whole population is calculated at little more than three thousand, of which the last mentioned class composes one half, and the two other classes about one fourth each. The European Portuguese and natives, are ge nerally persons of little respectability and debauched morals ; and the chief employment of both consists in the traffic of slaves, which renders them not very scru pulous about the means of gaining wealth. The regu lar salaries of all the public functionaries are so utterly inadequate for their support, that they are too much tempted to tolerate various abuses, such as selling the inferior offices of command, reducing the effective force of the settlement, and sharing in the perquisites which arise front the nefarious trade in slaves. This trade used formerly to supply the Cape of Good Hope, the Isle of France, and Batavia, with almost the whole of their slaves; besides sending a considerable number to the East and West Indies. Great part of this traffic is cut off by the abolition of the trade on the part of Great Britain ; but still the settlement supplies the Brazil coast and Spanish colonies with above 4000 of these unfortu nate creatures every year. They are bought at the rate of four or five pounds a head ; and it is reckoned a lucky voyage, if, out of a cargo of 300 or 400, only 60 die in the passage to South America. To the Por tuguese colonies in India, they send annually four or five vessels loaded with gold, ivory, and slaves, which bring back in return cottons, teas, and other kinds of eastern produce. All exports are exempted from duty, except slaves, which pay at the rate of 164 crusades each. Imports, after all charges are included, pay about 25 per cent., except specie, which pays 2, of which one per cent. goes to the revenue, and the rest to the governor. The most suitable articles for the market of Mosambi que are iron bars, and hoops, lead powder, shot, cutlery, stationary, prints, and framed pictures, some articles of household furniture, cotton for sofas, silk and cotton stockings, shoes and boots, waistcoat pieces, light plain muslins, blue cloth, a few telescopes, salt butter, hams, and cheese, and a little of most articles of luxury in use among the Portuguese. Most of the goods for exporta tion bear a high price ; but vessels may be supplied with provisions, consisting of bullocks, goats, and guinea fowls, at a moderate rate. A considerable number of an Arabian breed of asses is also reared at Mosambique for exportation, which are generally sent to the Brazils as presents, but which fetch a high price when sold.