26 who was the most powerful king among them, in whose town there was a large amount of gold, because no ships could go to Sofala without first passing this island. Some of the Mouros that live there are white, some black, they are well attired with many fine gold; silk and cotton cloths, and the women too, with a lot of gold and silver bracelets, worn on their feet and arms, and many jewels in their ears. These Mouros speak Arabic, and practise the Koranic idolatry, they believe strongly in Mafamede, and the Portuguese took the king’s position by force, because out of pride, he did not wish to obey Our Lord and King. Many people were captured and the kingfled from the island, and His Highness ordered that a fortress be built there, and placed them under his orders and authority; and then he ordered that it be destroyed, as it was not in his interest or benefit to keep it. Antonio de Saldanha knocked it down. Mombasa Heading further along the coast towards India, one comes to an island lying just off the mainland, where there is a city called Mombasa, which is very beautiful with very tall stone and mortar houses, and very well laid out, and the wood is beautifully carved. They have their own king who is a true Mouros, his wives are well-dressed with many silk cloths with lots of gold. A great many goods are traded here, it has a good harbour, where many vessels and large sailing ships [1] are always anchored, both those coming fromand going to Sofala and others coming from the great Kingdom of Cambay and Malindi; others that sail to the islands of Zanzibar, and others that I will mention later on. Mombasa has a very plentiful supply of provisions and there are many beautiful sheep with rounded bottoms and cows and lots of other livestock, and chickens, and it is all very plump; there is a lot of millet; rice; many sweet and bitter oranges; many lemons; pomegranates; prickly pears and all sorts of green vegetables, and many good waters. These men are 1. Translator's note: naos in the original text.
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