APPENDIX III. 



489 



shore of Zanzibar. The northern entrance, which leads 

 within the small woody isle, called Frenchman's Island,^ 

 is very narrow and crooked, in consequence of sand-banks, 

 which run out from opposite shores, crossing each other. 

 On the shallowest part (which will be known by bringing 

 three northern woody isles in one) the depth is not more 

 than three or four fathoms. The southern passes between 

 a sandy isle (Note 17), and the point on which the town of 

 Zanzibar stands is broader than the other, and has 7 or 8 

 fathoms water in it. The depth within the harbour is from 

 7 to 9 fathoms, with a tolerably good bottom : the rise of 

 water during spring is nearly three fathoms.^ Immediately 

 adjoining the north end of the town is an extensive creek 

 or inlet^ which runs a little way in, and turns up behind the 

 town. Here vessels of all descriptions are hauled up in 

 security during the virulence of the S.W. Monsoon. "With 

 a very little care it might be converted into an excellent 

 dock, and deepened, so as to admit with ease ships of at 

 least five or six hundred tons. 



The appearance of the island is extremely delightful. 

 It is in general low, especially at the extremities, where it 

 is thickly covered with a jungle and brushwood ; but to- 

 wards the middle the land rises into hills and gentle 

 eminences, which are cultivated, and clothed with cocoa- 

 nut trees. Besides the periodical rains which fall here 

 from the month of March to September, the island itself 

 is well- watered with a variety of springs, which unite and 

 form a number of delightful streams, that flow during the 

 dry season, and keep up that appearance of fertility and 

 beauty, which it exhibits throughout the whole year. 



^ Champani, the * He des Franjais,' or Cemetery Island. 

 ^ The average rise is about 13 feet. 



