THE ANNEXATION CRAZE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2471, 8 December 1886, Page 2

THE ANNEXATION CRAZE.

Socotra, the newest British possession, is an island in the Indian Ocean, 120 miles east of Cape Guardafui, the Eastern extremity of Africa, and commanding the ontrance to the Gult of Aden, It bolonged to Keshin, a pretty state of Arabia,, about 240 miles distant. Tamarida, its capital, on the north-east coast of tho island, is in latitude 12de? 39min N., longitude 54deg.lmin E. The island is 70 miles long from E, to W., and its greatest breadth is 20 miles. Tho area is estimated at 1,000 square miles, and population at from 4000 to 5000, mostly Bedouins, with some settled Arabs. Negroes, and Portuguese.' Its contro is a chain of granite and limestono mountains rising to 5,000 ft in elevation, around which a belt of low land from two to four miles across skirts tho sea. In its fertility it prosents in some parts a favourable contrast to tho ajacent mainland. The climare is more temperate than on ths African continent. The products oomprise aloes of tho finest quality, dragon's blood and other gums, tamarinds, tobacco and a kind' of millet andghoo. Domestic animals are oxen, sheep, goats, camels, andoivet cats. 1 Tho trade'.is mostly with Muscat, whence most provinces are important.In regard to. the place said to have been acquired by Germany, we (Press) are unablo to find any island of tho name given on. the.coaat of Somauli. There is, however, an Arabian town of Eastern Africa, tho chief • commercial entrepot between Cape Guardafui and the river Jubapu:the Indian Ocean, in latitude 2deg 2min north, longitude 4b"deg 26roin east. The population, with suburbs,. is said to be between 3,000 and 4,000. The town is encloaed by stone walls, and divided into three parts, one composed wholly of tombs, the other comprising about 160 stone and many wooden houses a mosquo, and several minarets of Arabian architecture, it is very unhealthy. The exports comprise ivory, gums, and some peculiar cloths; principal imports, sugar, dates, salt fish, arms, and (formorly)' slaves. Another account states that there is a local King, who is a Mohamedan. His subjects' all speak the Arabic tongue, are stout and warlike; and use poisoned arrowpnd lances.