4<; 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [African Islands. 



the capital The Government is said lo be cordial to strangers, the natives 

 trustworthy, and the country supplying many commodities. 



Tradb. — This place is frequented hy Arabs from Muscat and neigh- 

 bouring places, who carry on a small trade. Arabic is spoken by many ot 

 the natives. 



Provisions ANn Refreshments. — This is a good place to refresh at. 

 The beef is very fine, and may be salted here. Wild hogs are plentiful. 

 Rice is abundant, and sold by the game!, weighing 38 pounds. 



NEW MASSALEGE is situated on the right side of a river, in lati- 

 tude 15° 30' S. A bar at the entrance excludes large vessels. The town 

 is large, and there is a mud fort. The King, who resides here, is the most 

 powerful on the island. In the bay, facing the river, is good anchorage. 

 There is also a small island convenient for fitting and repairing ships. The 

 Arab families resident here construct small vessels, and trade to Persia and 

 Arabia, refreshing at the Comoro Islands : they alone can navigate the 

 open sea, and serve as pilots to the ships visiting the coast An interchange 

 of presents takes place when the King visits a ship. Bullocks, poultry, and 

 vegetables are offered ; and muskets, coarse linen, flints, &c. received. 



PASSANDAVA is a large square bay, extending 6 leagues to the S. 

 The town is at the bottom, in latitude IT 45 S., longitude 46 5 23 E. To 

 the N. are some islands. The great channel is to the W. of these islands ; 

 but there is a passage to the E. 



Provisions ano Refreshments may be procured, including wood and 

 water, on reasonable terms. The natives are shy at first, but seem to be 

 inoffensive and honest. 



From hence to Cape Amber, the N. E. extremity of the island, there 

 does not appear a place of resort for shipping. The ports on the K side 

 are seldom visited by English ships. The chief places are Fort Dauphin, 

 Manouro, Tamatave, Foul Point, St. Mary's Island, and AntongU Bay. 



FORT DAUPHIN, the southernmost, is in latitude 5 S., lon- 

 gitude 46 J 35 E. A ship should make the land to the N., on account of 

 strong N. E. and E. N. E. winds. Between tins place and Cape St. Mary, 

 the coast is generally bold. In approaching, a ship sbould anchor in the 

 night, to prevent being driven to leeward by the current. The fort com- 

 mands the road. The anchorage is within a reef. The quality of the 

 ground is unequal, sometimes sandy, at others rocky. 



Provisions ano Refreshments, including bullocks and poultry, are 

 abundant and reasonable- Indifferent water is got by digging in the sand ; 

 but there are excellent springs a short way inland. The natives are not to 

 be trusted, 



MANOUHO, a village of huts, at the mouth of a river, in latitude 



