Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. 225
to liim, and they were marched tlirougli a large
tract of country from the Mogincale river to
Shangady on the Antonio river to the
south of
it, and on arriving there were received very
kindly by Mousa,^ who sent messengers to the
mouth of that river, with letters to Captain
Parr, assuring him of the safety of Lieut. Reed
and the man who was with him, these messengers
going through the country in which
the Portuguese dare not show themselves: yet
they call these Arabs rebels, an appellation
which the latter treat with utter contempt.
" Why," say these Arabs, " do you (the English)
refuse to acknowledge our power ? if you did
not, our subjects would not treat you as enemies,
^
" It appears that the Arab chief Mousa has treated Mr.
Eeed and others that fell into his hands with great kindness,
and in a manner which certainly accords with his profession
of being a friend to the English ; this is the same person
whom the Governor of Mozambique refers to in his letter of
the 30th of Octobei', 1864, speaking of him as a rebel.
Mousa has, evidently, from Mr. Reed's account, great power
on this part of the coast, and owns the allegiance of 130
chiefs and 35,000 men ; he is desirous of being recognized
as an independent power." Sec Letter of Capt. Parr, Blue
Book, 1865.