On Tuesday [April 10], when weighing anchor to enter the port, the captain-major’s vessel would not pay off, and struck the vessel which followed astern. We therefore again cast anchor. When the Moors who were in our ship saw that we did not go on, they scrambled into a _zavra_ attached to our stern; whilst the two pilots whom we had brought from Moçambique jumped into the water, and were picked up by the men in the _zavra_. At night the captain-major “questioned” two Moors [from Moçambique][118] whom we had on board, by dropping boiling oil upon their skin, so that they might confess any treachery intended against us. They said that orders had been given to capture us as soon as we entered the port, and thus to avenge what we had done at Moçambique. And when this torture was being applied a second time, one of the Moors, although his hands were tied, threw himself into the sea, whilst the other did so during the morning watch. About midnight two _almadias_, with many men in them, approached. The _almadias_ stood off whilst the men entered the water, some swimming in the direction of the _Berrio_, others in that of the _Raphael_. Those who swam to the _Berrio_ began to cut the cable. The men on watch thought at first that they were tunny fish, but when they perceived their mistake they shouted to the other vessels. The other swimmers had already got hold of the rigging of the mizzen-mast. Seeing themselves discovered, they silently slipped down and fled. These and other wicked tricks were practised upon us by these dogs, but our Lord did not allow them to succeed, because they were unbelievers. [Illustration: A Tower at Mombasa. (_From a photograph by Sir John Kirk._)] Mombaça is a large city seated upon an eminence washed by the sea. Its port is entered daily by numerous vessels. At its entrance stands a pillar, and by the sea a low-lying fortress.[119] Those who had gone on shore told us that in the town they had seen many men in irons; and it seemed to us that these must be Christians, as the Christians in that country are at war with the Moors. The Christian merchants in the town are only temporary residents, and are held in much subjection, they not being allowed to do anything except by the order of the Moorish King. It pleased God in his mercy that on arriving at this city all our sick recovered their health, for the climate (“air”) of this place is very good. After the malice and treachery planned by these dogs had been discovered, we still remained on Wednesday and Thursday [April 11 and 12].[120] [_Mombaça to Malindi._]