eastern coast tobacco plantations have lately been much extended. Padang, the capital of Sumatra, is on the western coast, and since the commencement of military operations at Atjeh has greatly risen in importance.

Borneo. In this large island-the largest in the world next to Australia-the Dutch have extended their sway over about two-thirds of its space, and they have several settlements on the east, west and south coasts, from whence their influence extends over the rule of the native chiefs. Borneo is a mountainous country, but the coasts are bordered by extensive plains, the soil of which well repays the cultivator. Its native inhabitants are of a fiercer and more intractable character than those of the neighbouring islands, and owing to this, among other causes, European settlement has not made the rapid progress which from the natural advantages of the island might have been predicted. Here we find innumerable species of the Simia tribe, including the orang outang. On the north-east coast of Borneo is the province of Sarawak, which some thirty years ago was granted by the Sultan of Borneo to Sir James Brooke, as a reward for assistance rendered in suppressing the piratical raids of the Dyaks, a fierce and a fierce and sanguinary tribe of his own subjects.

Spice Islands and New Guinea.-To the east of Borneo are the beautiful Spice Islands, the most important, though not the largest of which are Amboyna and Banda, the nutmeg and clove plantations of which are widely celebrated, and the tawny and robust inhabitants, once among the most warlike, are now subdued and peaceable. Eastward again of the Spice

Islands, the magnificent island of New Guinea claims attention. At present it is but little known, although doubtless before long European enterprise will succeed in establishing a footing there, to the advantage both of its promoters and of the now uncivilized inhabitants of the island. The exquisite birds of Paradise, whose plumage has been so frequently borrowed to grace the head gear of ladies, find their chief home in New Guinea.

CHAPTER XL.

OUR NEIGHBOURS-concluded.

Muscat-Zanzibar-Ceylon.

Muscat and Zanzibar.-Muscát or Omán on the South Arabian, and Zanzibár on the East African coast, should also be mentioned in a list of India's neighbours. The Arab rulers of both countries are of the same family, Zanzibar formerly paying tribute to Muscat. But fourteen years ago on the death of the last Imaun, Zanzibar became independent. Oman forms the south-east extremity of the Arabian peninsula, washed partly by the Indian Ocean and partly by the Persian Gulf. The surface is varied by mountains and woods, wildernesses and fertile oases; the latter produce dates, grain and lofty trees yielding the true gum arabic (acacia vera.) Muscat and Mattra are the chief towns and ports of the country ruled by the Imaun or Sultan; the former is the capital, and is situated near the entrance to the Persian Gulf, with a population estimated at 60,000. The harbour is completely sheltered from the prevailing winds or monsoons. The town is built along the shore in the form of a horseshoe, encircled by hills crowned with forts. The houses are mean; even the Sultan's palace is no exception. The streets are so narrow, that palm leaves laid across from house to house form a perfect protection from the

sun, whose rays are here unusually powerful. The town of Mattra is near Muscat, is connected with it by a good road, and has about the same number of inhabitants; has docks for ships and a seafaring population. There is an extensive transit trade with Arabia, Persia and India; cloth and corn being the principal imports. The exports consist of dates, horses, salt fish, hides and madder to India; sharks' fins to China, and asses, &c., to Mauritius ; besides pearls, and gums and other products. In addition to the native Arab inhabitants there are, attracted by the hope of gain or barter, Persians, Hindoos, Syrians, Kurds, Afghans, Beloochees, Negroes and other races."

Zanzibar.-The Suahele or Zanzibar coast, is commercially the most important portion of the east coast of Africa. Facing it, and close to the main land are the islands of Pemba, Zanzibar and Mafia, which, together with the adjacent coast, are subject to the Sultan of Zanzibar, though his rule does not extend far inland.

"The extreme limits of his rule are the settlement of Warsheikh on the southern Somâli coast north of the Juba, and the village of Tunque immediately south of Cape Delgado (10° 43′ S.) where his dominions touch those of Portugal."†

According to Stanley, "Zanzibar is, of course, the place from which travellers bound for East Central Africa start. It is forty-five miles long by about fifteen miles average width. It is interesting to the explorer, as the point where he organises his forces."

* "Universal Gazetteer," by W. F. Ainsworth, F.R.G.S., &c.
"Africa," by Keith Johnston.

The island of Zanzibar is "2,400 nautical miles from the southern point of India, and about the same distance from the Cape of Good Hope and the Suez Canal."*

The town of Zanzibar has a handsome appearance, being built of white stone; and the streets present an animated aspect, from the motley crowds of natives and foreign merchants from all the neighbouring coasts engaged in the commerce of this rising port, which is the centre of the trade of the eastern shores of Africa. From the apathy of the native races the trade is almost entirely monopolised by Hindoo as well as Mahomedan merchants from India, who deal not only in English goods, but in those of the continent of Europe and America. Notwithstanding the great acuteness and perseverance of these Indian traders, the vast resources of the east of Africa are far from being developed. Ever since the British India Steam Navigation Company in 1873 established a monthly line of steamers between Aden, Zanzibar and Madagascar, a considerable impulse has been imparted to commerce. The slave trade has

been for years chiefly in the hands of the natives of India, but in 1873 Sir Bartle Frere, as the representative of England, concluded a treaty with the Sultan of Zanzibar for its suppression in Eastern Africa which was considered at the time a diplomatic victory; as yet, however, the chief result obtained has been that of giving the traffic a new direction by longer routes to other ports, leaving the old familiar roads and depôts for shipment on the coast encumbered and defiled with the skeletons of a bygone trade.

Slowly it begins to appear that, so long as the demand

*"Africa," by Keith Johnston.