JOHANNA, one of the Comoro islands, lying in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel, which separates Madagascar from the coast of Africa. Its proper name is Ilinzuan, which is said to have been progressively corrupt ed into Anzuan, Anjuan, -Nanny, and Johanna. Tots isl and is of a triangular figure, each side extending, as we conceive, about eighteen miles in length ; and its superfi cial area is computed at 162 miles. There is a bay with good anchorage on the north, though currents run with considerable torce ; and hither European vessels repair for the purpose of obtaining provisions and water. The isl and is mountainous, having in general a bold shore, and is visible from a great distance. A lofty peak rises amidst hills, which are clothed with wood and beautiful verdure. Numerous vallies, each watered by a stream, are biter spersed among them, and their margins covered with groves of cocoa trees, mangoes, oranges, and citrons. No thing can be more picturesque than the island of Johanna from every point of view. A volcano seems to have been anciently in activity here. Volcanic productions are uni versally disseminated : ferruginous particles are found in several places : flints are common on the shore, some parts of which also consist of a sandy beach.
This island abounds in great variety of the finest and most useful vegetanles. Every gorge among the moun tains, at a short distance from the sea, is compared to a well watered garden. In addition to the fruits already named, many others of the tropical climate grow in profu sion. Roots are plentiful ; the sugar cane attains much perfection ; and wild indigo is copiously diffused. The henna, with the juice of which the natives stain their skin, is a shrub reaching the height of six or eight feet, though perhaps not indigenous to the island.
No venemous creatures are found here; but musquitoes are extremely troublesome. Fish are not particularly abundant, at least at certain seasons, which has been as cribed to the presence of sharks. When they do appear, they are caught with lines, or speared very dexterously on rising to the surface. Turtle doves (one species of which is of a beautiful grey, shaded with green, blue, and whit() and quails, are numerous : the guinea fowl is less so, but is said to be remarkably tame ; and there are multitudes of a kind of hawk which subsists on fish. A species of
brown monkey is the chief wild animal inhabiting the woods ; swarms of mice infest the fields, and are supposed to be detrimental to the crops. The only domesticated quadrupeds are goats and the Indian cow, which find excel lent pasture in the vallies.
The inhabitants of this island are of two different kinds, Africans and Asiatics, distinguished by prominent features. The former are the same as those dwelling on the neigh bouring coasts ; the latter have sprung from a colony of Arabians, by whom the island was conquered, and who still hold it in subjection. These constitute the higher ranks, and the others the lower. But from the intermixture that unavoidably takes place among mankind in the course of successive generations, the original character of each is much obliterated among many of the natives, unless in the family of the sultan, where it is still preserved pure. The Arabic language is in general spoken ; and, from the fre quent visits of European vessels, butte English and French are tolerably well understood, and even employed in con versation by the natives. The men in general testify much good sense and acuteness ; many embellish their discourse with poetical phrases ; and great politeness is practised in their address. They arc of a courteous and affable dispo sition, extremely hospitable to strangers, whom they re ceive with extraordinary demonstrations of friendship, nor are these external only, for numerous examples might be given of their affording succour to shipwrecked mari:iers, woen they could entertain no expectation of any velum. Their honesty is rematkable, and those who have provided supplies to European vessels are anxious for certificates ol their conduct. These people are nevertheless indolent, excessively jealous of their women, and far from being en dowed with much personal courage. Perhaps the last en sues from their constant exposure to the attacks of a fero cious enemy of superior force, which cannot but damp the spirit of resistance. Women of the iowcr ranks withdraw from the gaze of the men, and those ol the higher are sel dont or never seen by strangers. But those English Ladies whose curiosity has gained them access to the harem re port that they are handsome, richly attired, and display a profusion ol ornaments.