18 MOXA and threshing grain at the same operation, and many for a binding apparatus as an attacn- ment to the reaper; but the more simple ma- chines are the ones in general use. MOXA, a counter-irritant used especially m cases of gout, rheumatism, and nervous dis- orders. It is of Japanese invention, having been in use in that country many centuries. The term is derived from the Japanese mogusa, "burning herb or grass." The finer woolly parts of the young leaves of wormwood, a spe- cies of artemisia, are applied to the skin in the form of small cones, and set on fire by means of a magnifying glass. They burn very slowly, and leave a scar or blister, which afterward breaks and discharges. The operation is not severely painful, except when it is applied twice in the same place. The Japanese have elaborate treatises on the art of moxa burning, according to the part to which it is applied. Its use in Japan is almost universal, and near- ly every person, especially among the lower classes, is scarred with moxa spots, burned on the back to relieve pleurisy, asthma, and indi- gestion; on the legs for rheumatism and to strengthen the feet; on the arms to relieve sore or weak eyes. It is used occasionally in the practice of western physicians. MOXOS, or Mojos, a nation of Indians in South America, occupying a large tract in Bolivia, between lat. 13 and 16 S., and Ion. 64 and 69 W. They believed that they originated on the spot, and from their superstitious reverence for its mountains, lakes, and rivers, each band feared to emigrate. They are lighter in color and taller than the neighboring nations ; are indus- trious, cultivating the soil, fishing and hunting. The women spin and weave. Their manners are generally mild, though they have some cruel superstitions. Missions were attempted among them at a very early period by the Dominicans, and a great mission of Jesuits was founded by Cyprian Baraza in 1676. They stopped the feuds among the Moxos bands, increased the planting of maize and bananas, and taught them various arts, collecting them in 15 fine missions. The Moxos Christians suffered great- ly from the attacks of the Portuguese, who carried off whole villages as slaves, but the suppression of the Jesuits was the greatest blow. They left 30,000 converts, but in less than 20 years the missions were reduced to 11. They have declined still further during the revolutions of the present century. In 1820 Velasco, the governor of the district, killed the cacique of San Pedro, and the Moxos rose in rebellion and put Yelasco and his soldiers to death. In 1831 the Moxos missions, with those of the kindred Baures and Muchojeones, numbered only 13,620 souls- in all, of whom 1,000 were in a wild state. They have a few books copied from generation to generation, and still play the old church music from notes. Even in their wild state they had a kind of signs which they used in writing. A history of the Moxos was written by F. Francis X. MOZAMBIQUE Iraizos. Their language lacks d, f, I, is harmo- nious and abounds in frequentative words. There is an Arte de la lengua Moxa con su wcabulario, by Father Marban (Lima, 1V01). MOZAMBIQUE (Port. Mozambique). I. A name applied to a large extent of the seaboard of E. Africa, belonging to Portugal ; area, about 380,000 sq. m. ; pop. about 300,000. It is bounded E. by the Mozambique channel, N. by Cape Delgado, lat. 10 41' S., and S. by Dela- goa bay, lat. 26 S. ; on the west the boundary is indefinite. The coast includes the two prominent headlands of Cape Corrientes in the south and Cape Delgado in the north, and several large bays, the chief of which are Delagoa and Pamba. Between Delagoa bay and Cape Corrientes, and from Mozam- bique city to Cape Delgado, the shores are high and precipitous ; while reefs and numer- ous islands lie off the land nearly throughout its entire length. Many large streams dis- charge themselves here; the principal is the Zambesi, the largest river of E. Africa, which debouches by several mouths at the middle point of the Mozambique coast. The climate is hot and unhealthy. Considerable tracts are cultivated and yield abundant crops of rice. The forests supply wood of great beauty and value. The rivers abound with hippopotami, which yield fine ivory. Gold was formerly obtained by washing the sands, but little is now produced ; and copper ore is said to be found in several places. The vast plains of the interior abound in elephants, lions, and other wild animals, from which ivory and valuable skins are obtained. But the Portu- guese have so neglected their possessions that the trade and government are now very feeble. The native chiefs are absolute rulers in most parts of the territory, and many of them are inimical to the Portuguese authority, which does not extend ten consecutive miles in any direction. Many of the subordinate officials and the entire garrison of 1,000 men are con- victs. The coast for administrative purposes is divided into six sub-districts, of which Mo- zambique is the head. A governor general and secretary, appointed by the crown, ad- minister the government, assisted by a junta composed of a president, treasurer, and 12 members ; and it is represented by two mem- bers in the Lisbon cortes. The established re- ligion is Roman Catholic, and is superintended by an apostolical prefect and a few priests. Education, like religion, is at a very low ebb, and most of the teachers reside in the capital. The Portuguese settlements, beginning from the north, are Sao Joao, Mozambique, Quili- mane, Sena, Tete, Sofala, Inhamban, and Lou- renco Marques ; all of which have declined. This coast was known to the Arabs centuries before its discovery by Europeans, and was oc- cupied by them when first visited by the Por- tuguese in the beginning of 1498. The fame of its gold and the convenience of its ports for the Indian trade led the Portuguese to at-
