New-York tribune., 1886-05-24
A VISIT To IHECOMORO ISLES
ROYAL FARE AT THE COURT OF JOHANNA


THE PEOPLE AND HE towns OF THE TERaII0RY
RECENTLY CrDED 10 FRANCE.
fFRou Az occ AsfoS A. coRRgsPOvDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
JOHANNA, Comoro Islands, March 2O.--lt Il
stated that treaty has signed cedng 10 France
the Comoro and. which fOur In number. lying III
the Mozambique Channel. between Africa ana inc
northern end OF Maiayascar. In latitude 10 to l3-
south longitude 49, to 10 east The four Islands
are the Angaziya, or Great Com0ro ArJoDa1. or Jo
hanna; Mayotts aud MOnills. Mayotte was ceded TO
France 1912 The other islands belong to Arabia.
The Inhabitants about 10000. princl paly Mahom-
etans, but fetchism prevails TO some extont Tho
people Johanna mud their principal employment Ia
connection with the ships calling for provisions The
trae OF Comoro aud MonIla Is Of the same character
but the islands are much rcquontcd as In former
years.
Upon entering the harbor OF Moosanoodoo.
tho principal settlement OF Johanna, one
Is struck with the picturesque beauty OF the hills
From the anchorage town also picturesque, with
s tall mnarets aud ts two fortsonc perchrd on com
manding hill and the other upon the beach among the
shore houses the Illusion is readily dpelled upon
reaching shore The landngis upon beach OF rocks
and shells and through considerable surf IN the calm
est weather Along the shore are strevn the washed
clothes OF tho ships officers and crew and set OF
vagabond looking natives OF all colOrs save that OF the
Caucasian. loungng aOOlt looking cireIessy oh'
and presenting repulsve contrast 20 the Arabs Inc
cOstunea OF the latter decidedly attractive; white
robes with Jackets, and slken grdes about their
waists supporting olmeters. the scabbards and hits
elaDoraely finished with go. and silver. These clmeers
are purch Nuscat. and cost from so to $3.50
each Tnc mems leet are cncased IN Sandals ana large
white turDans adorn their heals Many OF tnen speak
ENGLISH with nurncy aud French well
The town l. dil.pdat"i a'd 81 iad to the iast de.
gree OF 70 tgh stone crGented and hatched
the street. hve feet wide ana exceedingly
crooked. Tho Is enctrcled by stone WALL twenty
feet IN height with an entrance Of the In
closure through gateway scarcely Wluf tuouSH ioI
two persons pass AT the same time. Ihs wall was
butt ofdefrLce against the pirates, who were
habit OF visiting the island and stealing everything
from people. the slaves slavery exists 10 "A
large extent and the sultan OF johanna owns IOo
beng-, he keeps principally 10 till Ms lands on the
side Of island. the other Arabs alo own plan
Tue Inhabitants OF the Islands, mixture OF Arabs and
negroes IN great part. are Intelligent and sprghtiy
Before the Cyl war IN tue Culted states tnry Pul-
chased many cotton goods from the Americar whaers
but their opportunities were dissronsy Interrupted by
the toniedcr1te cruiser AldDtht o.nco .hen
they have not Jared well under the expressions
OF the English. who they assert are strong enough 20
Interfere III evrryD'dys antrs anu 10 threaten US WIN
the exercise u their power II No OrhS over any more
slaves from the main" 80
aud the mountain sides are so steep IN some places haL
tops the tOuch the trunks and roots
OF others The Language OF the Siani cui't hr1pic
dialect Is soft and pleasing 10 the ear fIlnce Apiadn
perhaps OF the best cducated men IN the Arapc
rtDry. and WAS struck win the hoVeLty oi & tne
honc aud the eXtre ne beauty or face and physical pud
ful-5OOied Arab. lie - tall >oldeiy
man, with square shoulders. nrotl hlp,. wei rr'pVr
toned limbs, olive complexion, hnrly cul features ana
the beauty OF OF three wives, w"om chanced
10 see with raisei. In addition 70 his three
wives lie has 40 cOncuDlnes Ihe walls
of his house are tlled with small inches,
rrceptices for coffee cups. ornanentS etc Couchrs are
ran ged about reception and dining rooms ana nOors
are covered with rich Turkish carpets ant
black houri was set u fan me' AMI crowd OF
children gathered about me, bu the harem kept IN the
background II the naren have ca~lOn 10 go IN
appear pdbc II must be with her race
behind a tnree-cOrneren mask with her eyes peepng
After refresh and rose syrup
walked INTO the Priucrs Garden, beautiful wilder
betcnuts and cOcOanuts. mlnIarn oranges ana
with heterogeneous patches or rce SWEET
potatoes bans. and here and there cotton pant
On my departure the Prince treated me with royal
lOnors A Duud OF musc-,wO drums ant a olarlo1et-
PLAYED for me- the lsicttns using hlS nstru-
regardless OF the Others Ieir music renhed me
what "A found ings mi mt be on Cnrlstmds
morning after drums aud trImpets had been Hberaly
distributed The boly guard about twenty native sol
crs was drawn up. the holding their arms IN the
awkward pOstlon. II there dress was e ttuFe
coats and red caps. condemned uni
forms from the Eng.l-n soldiers scarcely
one of button coat II was fastened
together " IN pieces or sirnk Ine nOnors. however,
we're best the island Afforded.