ZANZIBAR CITY. 



79 



zibar, in round numbers 6° south of the line, 

 occupies the western edge and about the midway 

 length of the coral reef that forms the island. 

 The latter is separated by a Manehe or channel 

 from the continent, a raised strip of blue land, 

 broken by tall and remarkable cones all rejoicing 

 in names still mysterious enough to nutter the 

 traveller's nerves. The inclination of the island 

 from N.N.W. to S.S.E. shelters the harbour 

 from the Indian Ocean, whilst the bulge of 

 the mainland breaks the force of dangerous 

 Hippalus, the S.AY. monsoon. The minimum 

 breadth of the Blanche is 16 geographical miles ; 

 from the Fort to the opposite coast there are 24, 

 and from the bottom of Menai Bav 35. The 

 Periplus gives to the Menouthian Channel about 

 300 stadia, in round numbers 30 geographical 

 miles : 600 common stadia correspond, within a 

 fraction of the real measurement, with a degree 

 of latitude (1°= 8 -^ of the earth's circumference). 

 Marinus of Tvre and Ptolemv. however, undulv 

 reduced the latter to 500 stadia. 



Zanzibar city is built upon a triangular spit, 

 breaking the line of its wide, irregular, and shal- 

 low bay. The peninsula is connected with the 

 island by an isthmus some 300 yards wide, and it 

 is backed by swamp and lagoon, bush and forest. 



