Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/298

 234 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. In no part of South Africa are the lands better watered or more productive, and in the Manica territory " droughts and scarcity are unknown." A Negro ngulo or " kinglet " resides at Mulmsa, on the south-west slope of the Manica hills. As a vassal of the Portuguese Government, he is kept in awe by an officer with the title of " capitao-mor," whose little garrison is stationed in the natural fortress of Masmra, a huge bluff with precipitous walls, accessible only by a giddy zigzag path. On one occasion three thousand Zulus in vain attempted to storm this rocky citadel, from which large stones were rolled down, crushing great numbers of the assailants. The capital of this extensive district, which bears the alternative names of Manica and Qm/V»7v {lufi're), has been recently founded in the Serra de Gorongoza, at the village of lultaiuju, usually called Villa Gonreia, from the name which the natives give to the capitao-mor. Formerly the surrounding hills were completely deserted, but they are now being gradually repeopled, and companies of disciplined Landins are now enlisted by the Government to protect this new Portuguese conquest from the attacks of their southern kinsmen. The ancient kingdom of Ba-Rue has also been entirely reduced by the capitao-mor of Manica, and is now held by him as his personal domain. This highly favoured official further enjovs a complete monopoly of the local traffic in beeswax and other produce.