Apart from its agriculture, the chief value of the island is in the sheltered roadstead of the capital, as good harbours are 32 rare in this part of the world. Here we see it from the sea, 33 and here is one of the main streets of the town. In Zanzibar we find all the races of the Indian Ocean represented, and here are collected all the products of the islands and of the coast of Africa, which is only twenty-five miles away. The trade with India still remains, while the steamship has brought also direct intercourse with Europe. In the early days of trade, the security of a position on an island was an important factor in the growth of a seaport; now that Europe is policing both the sea and the mainland, the advantage of the island is less, and Zanzibar has a growing rival a hundred and fifty miles away on the coast of Africa. Mombasa is on a small island, connected with the 34 mainland by a causeway. On the north side is Mombasa harbour, 35 rather shallow and not very convenient for shipping; on the south is the deep Kilindini channel, running for a long distance inland and providing one of the finest harbours on the east coast of Africa. Mombasa is the terminus of the railway which crosses the low coast strip and surmounts the plateau of East Africa. The trade of the port is very old; but only slaves and ivory could be carried in former times over the long and difficult caravan route which ended here. Now, the railway can bring down to the sea all the products of a vast area inland. Here we have a 36 scene on the old road, and here by way of contrast the modern 37 railway. Mombasa, like Port Sudan, will create a new traffic in the future, to join the great stream which moves through the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal; but the subject of British East Africa and its resources must be left for future treatment; here we are concerned only with its relation to our sea route. [Illustration: _Copyright._) (_See page 40._ ANT HILLS, ON THE ROAD TO WAGGA.] [Illustration: _Copyright._) (_See page 41._ A SOMALI GUIDE.] [Illustration: _Copyright._) (_See page 56._ RECEPTION BY THE SULTAN OF THE MALDIVES.]