From Naples to Entebbe. 



The island upon wliicli the city is built is known in tlie 

 native language as Kisiwa niwita, or " Island of War," a name 

 which agrees with its history, wliicli is entirely made up of 

 warlike vicissitudes. Mombasa is the best port on the whole 

 east coast of Africa, and was a valuable station on the old 

 trade route for India before the Suez Canal. For these reasons 

 it was for centuries one of the most eagerly sought positions 

 and one of those most persistently disputed between the Arabs, 

 Portuguese, and Turks, who lield it alternately. When tlie 

 Portuguese domination came to an end in 172'J, Mombasa was 



KAVIKUNDi) WOMEN'. 



governed for over a century by Ai'abs of the family of Mazrui. 

 under the nominal suzerainty of the Imans of ( Jman. When 

 the latter transported their capital from Maskat to Zanzibar, 



35 T) -2 



