Sofala

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Sofala, Zofala, a Kingdom in the Lower Aethiopia in Africa, in the Country of Cafraria; towards the Ethiopick Ocean; in an Island in the Mouth of the River Zambez, in the Borders of Zanguebaria; which takes its name from Sofala, a strong City under the Portuguese; one hundred and fifty Miles from Zanguebar, and three hundred and forty from Mosambique. Fifty Miles West of this City, there are rich Mines of Gold, called the Mines of Manica, from which the Portuguese raise a vast Revenue. Some have therefore believed Sophala to be the Ophir of King Solomon; confirming their conjecture by the Septuagint's Translation of Ophir into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which by an ordinary change of r into l, makes Zopheila or Sofala; together with this, that the people of Sofala pretend to prove from their own Books, that the Jews in Solomon's time voyaged to those Coasts from three year to three year, to buy Gold: and the Country shews several Buildings and ancient Inscriptions in unknown Characters, which must be understood to be the Works of Strangers. See Ophir. The Portuguese call the King of Monomotapa the Emperour of Gold, from these and other Mines in his Dominions. For Sofala is contained in Monomotapa.