MOMBASSA, or Momnaz, a seaport t. of east Africa, in the territory of the sultan of Zanzibar, on a small coralline island off the coast, in the paddle of an estuary formed by two small rivers, in lat. 4° 4' s.. and long. 39° 43' e. about 150 in. u. of Zanzibar island. The shores of the island are rocky and abrupt; and although the channel may be forded at low water, the attempt is attended with danger. The town has the usual Arab char acteristics of ruin, neglect, and filth in a striking degree. The only object of interest is an extensive fort, built on a rock, cut perpendicularly, in 1596, by the Portuguese, and restored by them in 1635, as an inscription over the principal gateway indicates. it is a work of considerable pretension, with upwards of guns in position, but in a ruinous condition. The inhabitants, the majority of whom are sunk in abject poverty, mostly live in wretched hovels, scattered among what remains of the once magnificent buildings.
The town and island of Mombassa, as well as the surrounding district, is inhabited by the Wanika tribe. The harbor is still good, and is commodious and safe. Mombassa was visited by Vasco da Game. in 1497, when he found it to be a large and very prosper ous town. It was held by the Portuguese during the greater part of the period from 1529 to 1720, when it appears to have become independent. The English held it from 1824 to 1826, when they resigned it. Since then it appears to have been possessed by the sultan of Zanzibar, and apparently is considered a place of some importance. Bur ton says that the inhabitants of Mombassa "are justly taxed with pride, bigotry, evil speaking, insolence, turbulence, and treachery by other Arabs." Pop. 13,000 to 15,000.