ZANGUEBAR, a name given by the Portuguese and after them by other European nations, to a country of eastern Africa, probably from Zanzibar, the largest of the islands belonging to it. It extends from the Mozimba (11' 50' S. lat.), which separates it from Mozambique on the south, to Ras Assoad (4' 10' N. lat.), on the north, where it joins the coast of Ajan. The extent of the coast-line exceeds 1500 miles.
But little is known of Zaoguebar except the sea-coast. The interior is entirely unknown, and occupied by native tribes, which are always at war with the inhabitants of the coast, who are mostly foreign settlers. The most northern portion from Ras Assoad to the mouth of the river Juba (a few miles south of the equator) is called Barra Somauli, or the country of the Somauli, because occupied by that nation. The country north of Mukdeesha, or Magadoxo, as seen from the sea, exhibits a very small degree of fertility, but in the interior of the country there seems to be a fertile populous basin traversed by the Ilarstzs Riven. To the south of Mukdeeaha the country improves considerably ; it is far more fertile and more populous. There are several towns on the coast, as Mukdeesha [Disosnoxo]; Gezerat and Denana; linvaly and Goondarsha; Marks.; 3iongooye and Torre; and Brava. All these towns are built on rocky promontories, either entirely or nearly insulated. Along the coast there are in most places dangerous reefs. The river, called Juba. or Jubb by the Arabs, and by the Africans Wow-weenda, is stated to be of considerable length, rising in Abyssinia, and being navigable by boats for three months from its mouth. Across the mouth, which is not wide, there is a bar, but the bar is narrow and has plenty of water.
The country south of the river Juba is much more indented, and contains numerons fine harbours. The shore as well as the islands are formed of madrepore. Between the mouth of the river Juba and the Bay of Kwyhoo, a distance of 150 miles, is a labyrinth of small islands and rocks. The country opposite this labyrinth of islands is a succession of hills covered with verdure and of well-wooded lowlands.
These ports contain many antiquities, consisting of tombs, obelisks, and other ruins. Though the soil of this tract is apparently fertile and the climate healthy, it is very thinly peopled, having been laid waste by the Galla, who have extirpated the former inhabitants, or obliged them to take refuge in the islands.
At the southern extremity of this region (near 2° S. lat.) begins a low coast-line, which however contains many excellent harbours, as those of Kwyhoo, Patta, Lamoo, Formosa, Melinda, and Mombas. There are only a few coral islands along it. The shores of the bays and harbours are low and mostly swampy ; they are overgrown with mangroves, but at a short distance inland the country rises into low hills, between which are wooded levels of moderate extent. The surface presents a soil varying from red to a dark black, which appears to possess a considerable degree of fertility. In Formosa Bay is the Mouth of the river Ozy, which is one mile wide at its entrance, and, although deep inside and a large river, it is difficult of access on account of a dangerous quieksand-bar, over which at low tide there is only four feet of water. According to the statement of the natives, this river rises greatly during the rainy season, and inundates the surrounding country for many miles, destroying innumerable wild animals, among the rest many elephants. At the distance of fifteen days' journey in a canoe there is said to be a large town, Zoobakey, beyond which the current is too strong for farther progress. There seems little doubt that this large river and the numerous other streams that fall in on this coast, have their sources in the recently discovered Kilimadgaro Mountains, which rise above the line of perpetual snow and reach their culminating point in a lofty dome-shaped summit towering hizb above several lower snow crowned peaks that surround it, near 3° 40' S. lat. This high mountain range, which (it is asserted by some) stands at the head of the Nile River, runs nearly due north and south at a distance of about 200 miles from the coast, to which it presents its steepest slope.