Early visitors from Portugal
The Portuguese visited the East African coast for the first time in 1498, when Vasco de Gama swiftly subjugated Kilwa and Zanzibar, with three naval ships.
The sultan of Malindi who paid tribute to the Portuguese and his town was spared. Alone in resisting the invaders were the well armed Arab and Swahili residents of Mombasa helped by a conscript army of Wanyika bowman also called Mijikenda People. The resistance could not stop the Portuguese from attacking, sacking and firing the town. The Portuguese eager to establish their hegemony on the East African coast in fear of weakening their lucrative trade with the far east, continued bombarding Zanzibar (1503), Kilwa and Mombasa (1505).
The town of Mombasa was sacked several times more, due to the refusal of the Sultan of Mombasa to pay tribute to the Portuguese and continued direct trading with Arabia and Persian Gulf. The Portuguese realizing that without a permanent garrison the north East African coast could not be controlled built Ford Jesus between 1592 -1596 using masons from Goa (India).
For the next hundred years the Portuguese staid, until the Oman Arabs had regained their old energy and independence ejecting the Portuguese from Muscat and East African coast terminating 200 years of Portuguese rule in 1698. The Portuguese conquest maintained by a few isolated garrisons had left no permanent mark on this part of the coast.
The introduction of cassava, maize and pineapple, though only cultivated on a small scale can be contributed to the Portuguese presence.
Addresses and Contacts:
For more information about Pugu Hills Centre, the Forests and the history, please visit our web site:
(also a copy of this booklet can be downloaded from the website)
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