Co'moro Isles

Co'moro Isles, a group of four islands belonging to France, in the Mozambique Channel, between Africa and Madagascar. The islands, which are of volcanic origin, are mountainous, and have an extremely fertile soil, are called Angaziya or Great Comoro, Anjouan or Johanna, Mohilla, and Mayotta. Great Comoro is 35 miles long, and has a population of 35,000; its highest point is 8500 feet. Johanna, next in size, with 12,000 inhabitants, has a British consul and a British coaling station. Mohilla, the smallest, is 15 miles long, and has 6000 inhabitants. These became French in 1886. Mayotta or Mayotte, 21 miles long, and with a pop. (1885) of 10,049, has been a French possession since 1841. At the capital, Dsaudsi or Nzaondzi, are government buildings, a few hundred French soldiers, and numerous officials. The annual imports and exports of the island have each a value of over 2,000,000 francs. In all the islands the blood of the natives is partially Arab, partially Malagasy; the Sakalavas having occupied part of Mayotte after the conquest of Madagascar by the Hovas. See MADAGASCAR.