i6o 
MADAGASCAR 
side. The coral formations on the coasts of Great Comoro, 
however, appear to be of less extent. 
The Arab traders dwelling on the east coast of Africa 
have known these islands for a long time, and have trans¬ 
ferred to them the name “ Komr ”, formerly applied to Mada¬ 
gascar, and from this came the name '‘Comoro Islands”. 
Map of the Comoro Islands. 
The French took possession of Mayotta in 1841. When 
trouble arose with the Hova government in the eighties, 
followed by a delusive peace, the other Comoro Isles 
were placed under French protectorate, in 1886, in order 
to shew at least one success in foreign matters. 
The climate of the islands is warm, but is easily 
borne by Europeans, as the prevalence of the trade- 
wind prevents stagnation of the air. The dry cool 
