Skilfully built, of long and narrow shape;
And leaves of the umbrageous palm supplied,
Woven with art, their neatly matted sail.
Their skin exhibited the swarthy hue 22
Which Phaeton stamp'd upon the human race
In regions scorch'd by his rash fall:—His fate
The Po well knows, and Lampethusa still
Laments. Cotton their dress, of various hues,
Or snowy white, or deck'd with gaudy stripes;
Some wore them round the body girt, and some
With graceful air over the shoulder thrown.
Above the waist the naked form appear'd;
Daggers and shorten'd scimitars their arms;
Turban'd their heads; and as they sail'd, the sounds
Of Moorish trumpets their approach announc'd.
With hands uprais'd, and various signs they show'd
Their eager wish the fleet for them should wait;
But the light prows were then already bent
To seek a port in safety near the Isles.
The gallant crews no zealous labors spare,
And strive as if, henceforth, their toils should cease;
Instant the sails are furl'd; the crystal waves
Dash'd by the plunging anchor, sparkling, foam.
But long before the fleet was safely moor'd,
The Island-strangers nimbly reach'd the deck;
Joy beam'd on ev'ry face, while the brave Chief
To each a kind and gen'rous welcome gave.
Forthwith the hospitable board was spread,
And goblets with Lyæus' purple juice
Fill'd to the brim, by Phaton's swarthy race
Freely were quaff'd ;—not mincingly declin'd.-
Partaking cheerfully the lib'ral feast,
They ask'd, in Arabic, from whence they came,
Their name, their native land, and whither bound?
And what the unknown seas through which they pass'd?
The valiant Lusitanians replied
In frankest terms, with circumspection graced :
Our country, Portugal, far in the West,
We left, the Eastern regions to explore;
The spacious seas we pass'd that, from their waves,
Calisto's and Orion's rays reflect;
All Afric's coast, and many a varied clime,
And lands, till then unknown, have we beheld.
Our potent Monarch is by all so lov'd,
So venerated and ador'd, for him
Not only perils of the sea we brave,
But into Acheron itself would plunge
With joyful promptitude. By his command
We seek the Orient-lands by Indus bath'd;
For him we traverse mighty seas, till now
Plough'd only by the monsters of the deep.
But now, just it appears, that we should ask,
(If sacred truth by you should be rever'd,)
Your name, and what this country where ye dwell,
And if of India ye have any trace?
Strangers ourselves, replied an Islander, In faith, in customs, from the natives here Widely we differ:-as by nature form'd, They are alike to faith and reason blind; But we observe the holy precepts taught By that great Prophet who from Abr'am sprung, And whose commanding law the world obeys, Though mix'd was his immediate descent. 23 This Island where we dwell, contains a port Secure, and most frequented by our barks, Which traffic on the seas between Quiloa, Mombaza, and Sofala's golden coast.
It suits our wants and views here to reside,
And with the natives equal rights enjoy.
Seeing ye seek of all to be inform'd,
The name by which 'tis known, is Mozambique;
And since such mighty seas you pass'd in search
Of fam'd Hydaspes, and the glowing lands
On Indus' banks, a skilful pilot hence
Shall guide ye thither o'er the bounding waves:
And as refreshments ye must needs require,
"Twere well the Chief, to whom we all submit,
Should see you, and with lib'ral hand provide
Whate'er your urgent wants may best supply.
Thus spake the Moor, and straightway to his barks Return'd, with all his swarthy company,
Leaving the noble Captain and his fleet
With many signs of courteous respect.
Meanwhile, the crystal car of Phoebus sinks Beneath the waves, closing the splendid day; But Dian, while He rests, his course supplies, And with her argent rays the world illumes. Amidst the wearied crews, throughout the night, Wild unexpected pleasure reign'd, that flow'd
From renovated hope they yet should see
The realms, traces of which they here obtain'd.
The customs, manners, every novel trait
Mark'd in these Islanders, awak'd surprise;
But most they wondered that the erring sect
Of Mahomet so widely was diffus'd.
Now Cynthia's rays with gentle lustre shone 24 Reflected from the sparkling silver'd waves; In harmony, the starry sky appear'd
A field celestial strew'd with heav'nly flow'rs;
The furious winds, pent in their distant caves,
In quiet slumber, undisturb'd, repos'd;
But through the silent night the watchful guard
On board the fleet, their usual vigils kept.
Soon as the glimm'ring marbled dawn appear'd,
And from her lovely locks Aurora shed
Her first mild rays preceding rosy Morn,
When wak'd Hyperion runs his golden course,
The brave Armada all her banners gay
Display'd; and tasteful canopies were rais'd,
With festive joy and welcome to receive
The visit which the Island-Chief prepar'd
To pay. Embarking with alacrity,
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