46 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
ance upon the mainland. The islands seem to have , 
been selected as affording more security against the 
encroachments of the savage inland tribes, yet it 
must be remembered that some of them are exceed- 
ingly rich and fertile. Let us take a rapid survey of 
the whole country, beginning at the south. 
Kiloa : this is a small island, but its town is of 
considerable size. It is chiefly notorious for its large 
exports of slaves. Mafiya is a much larger island, 
further north, standing at some distance from the 
coast. It is said to be fertile. Of the coast between 
Kiloa and Bagamoyo not much is known. The river 
Rufiji comes down through this portion of the 
country, but it does not appear to be of much 
importance. Dr. Livingstone ascended it for some 
distance, but beyond this it has never been explored. 
Dara Salaam, almost opposite to Zanzibar, is a 
new town. It was commenced by the late Sultan 
Majid, who intended making it the capital of the 
country. He seems to have been apprehensive that 
he might have to leave Zanzibar to some more power- 
ful nation, and his object in building Dara Salaam 
was, doubtless, that he might have a place of retreat 
when the progress of events should render it necessary. 
The position selected is a good one, the chief advan- 
tages being that it is higher and perhaps healthier 
than Zanzibar, and there is also a good and com- 
modious harbour. The town has been neglected 
since the Sultan Majid's death, the present Sultan 
taking less interest in it than his brother had done. 
Bagamoyo is a long straggling place, with a 
population of between three and four thousand. It 
contains a few substantial buildings ; all the rest 
