23 Every day, he receives huge presents sent by the other kings and lords, each sends what he can afford, and they carry them uncovered on their heads through the middle of the city, until they reach a very tall house where the king always lodges, and he sees them through a window but they can not see him, they can only hear him speak; and then the king calls the bearer of the gift and immediately gives him a handsome dispatch. A captain called Somo always accompanies the king on the field, along with a large number of people, and five or six thousand women who also take up arms and fight. He uses these people to quell certain kings who rebel or who wish to rebel against their lord. Every year, this King of Benamatapa dispatches noblemen throughout his kingdom to all his dominions, to give them newfire, in order to know if they obey him, that is to say, when each of these men reaches a place they put out all thefires there, so that there is nofire left at all in that settlement, and once they have all been put out, they all take it again from his hand as a sign of great friendship and obedience, meaning that the village or town which does not wish to do so, is immediately accused of rebellion. He then sends the said captain there, who destroys it or brings it back under his order and lordship. Wherever the said captain and all his army pass, they must be supplied with provisions and fed millet; rice and meat by the local people; they also take a lot of sesame. Cuama Heading from Sofala towards Mozambique, at close to forty leagues from Sofala, one comes to a very big river called the Cuama, which goes over one hundred and seventy leagues inland into the kingdom of Benamatapa. There is a settlement at the mouth of the river whose king is known as the Mamgalo. A lot of gold from Benamatapa is taken downstreamalong this river to thisMouros town. There is another branch
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