a country on the east coast of Africa, lying between S. Lat. 19. and 25., between Mozambique on the N. and Caffraria on the S., extending from the southern arm of the Zambesi to Delagoa Bay, a distance of about 850 miles. It consists of a low flat sandy or swampy tract along the coast, and of a loftier mountainous region in the interior. Several considerable rivers water the country. Of these the most important are the Boozy or Jarra, the Sofala, and the Inhamban. The rivers annually overflow large tracts of country, and some of them are connected by branches with the Manica in the south, and with the Zambesi on the north. Some of the rivers are partially navigable, and form good harbours at their mouths. The coasts of Sofala are low and beset with shoals, sand-banks, and small islands. The land along the coast is on the whole good, producing abundance of rice, and pasture for flocks and herds. Ivory and bees' wax are the chief articles of export; and these are, for the most part, sent to Mozambique. The native inhabitants of this region belong to several different tribes. In the interior, near the borders of the Trans Vaal Republic, which lies to the S.W. of Sofala, dwell the Mathele. To the S.E. of them, extending as far as the sea, are a number of tribes designated by the Portuguese under the general name of Barbariri. The coasts towards the south are occupied by the Slembi and Botonga, and further north by the kingdom of Sabia, which occupies the land about the delta of the river Sabia. In the interior an elevated plateau, about the middle of the country is occupied by the kingdom of Quiteve; and a mountainous region further west by that of Quissanga. The former of these countries produces gold, topazes, and rubies, while the latter has rich mines of iron and copper. The most northerly kingdom of Sofala is that of Matuka, formerly a portion of the extensive empire of Monomotapa. A great number of the Portuguese settlements in Eastern Africa lie in different parts of Sofala. They have a total area of 10,384 square miles, and contain a population of 287,000. The districts of Quilimane, Sena, and Tete, have an area of 2330 square miles, that of Chikowa 4390, and that of Zumbo 4664. The Portuguese governor of these possessions, who is under the general governor at Mozambique, resides at Sena, a wretched place on the right bank of the Zambesi, with only 200 inhabitants. At the distance of 207 miles to the S.W. of this stands Sofala, formerly the capital of a kingdom and a flourishing commercial town. It has a fort and a church, but consists now of only about twenty straw-huts.

SOFITA. See Glossary to Architecture.