Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/499

 MAODOSHCJ. 409 which the natives had succeeded in recovering from the rapids, was till recently used by them as a ferry-boat between the two banks of the Juba. East of the lower course of the Wcbi, where it runs for some miles parallel with the sea, the coastline describes a slightly concave curve, to which the Arabs have given the numc of El-Banader, that is, " the ports." Yet the villages along this section of the seaboard offer nothing but exposed and often dangerous road- steads. From this designation of the coast the Bimal, Tuni, Abgal, Wadan, and other neighbouring populations, are often collectively called Banaders, or Benadirs. Bi'dca, or Bairini, the first of the roadsteads, where the little Arab dhows find some shelter behind a chain of reefs, has at least the advantage of an abundant supply of good water. Vessels t^kirting the coast in the direction of Cape Guardafui, here take in their last provision of fresh water. Brava may be regarded as the outport of the Lower Wcbi, for this river, before running out in the surrounding swamps and sands, passes within 7 or 8 miles of this place. In the intervening space is developed a chain of hills 400 to 500 feet high, which assume the outlines of the towers and ramparts of a fortified city. Some Arab and Swaheli families are settled at Brava in the midst of the surrounding Somali populations. Although Mohammedans, these population-*, which are mixed with Galla elements, are extremely tolerant. Their women, who are allowed to go unveiled, arrange their hair in the form of a crest reaching from the brow to the nape of the neck. Mi:r/,a, which stands on a rocky headland, has the best claim of all these villages to the title of bandar, or " port." Here a creek well sheltered from the north-east trade winds affords some accommodation to the Arab dhows which obtain cargoes of hides, ivory, and gum-copul from the surrounding districts. A slightly leaning ruined tower still recalls the Portuguese occupation of Merka in the sixteenth century. Magdoshu. — Opia. Farther north follow a few towns now in ruins, beyond which is seen rising above the beach the massive square tower which commands the terraced houses of Magiloshu* a place which, like Kismayu, Brava, and Merka, is governed in the name of the Sultan of Zanzibar. Within the jurisdiction of the governors of all these towns is included a little enclave or separate territory 10 or 12 miles in circum- ference. Magdoshu is the famous city which Ibn Batuta describes as " immense," and whose name, gradually expanding with its renown, was at last extended to the great island of Madagascar. In bis account of the wonders of the world, Marco Volo had described as an island the coast of " Zanquebar ; " he did the same with that of Magdoshu, or " Madeigascar," which accordingly figures as an island on Martin Beham's old Atlas. As pointed out by M. Grandidier, this was the land Portuguese maps.
 * Other forms of the word are Mogdushu, Makdithu, Madisha, Mogaditho, that is, the Magadoio of the