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Chapter 3 THE EAST AFRICAN COAST TO 1800
- West Virginia University Press
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Chapter 3 It is useful for historians to consider the East African coast and interior as separate entities with divergent historical experiences. This is not because there was no contact between the relatively narrow coastal belt and the interior and not because the people who resided at the coast were different from those of the interior. They are regarded as separate because the coast was far more influenced by the Indian Ocean than the interior. The East African coast was part of the Indian Ocean world commercially, culturally, and even at times politically, and much more is known about it. Indian Ocean influences had much less impact on the interior, probably because contact between the coast and the interior was never easy. As one moves toward the interior, the narrow coastal region gives way to a belt of very dry land (nyika) characterized by bush or semi-desert vegetation. This was not an area which could support a substantial agricultural population, and it served as a barrier, though by no means a complete one, to intercourse between the coast and regions further inland. Moreover, few if any of the rivers which flow to the coast provide satisfactory natural highways to the interior. In contrast, contact with lands adjacent to the Indian Ocean has been much easier to accomplish and more far reaching in its impact. It would be wrong to suggest that there was no contact between the East African coast and interior since items of trade did pass to and from The East African COAST TO 1800 the east african coast to 1800 | 35 the latter. This trade, however, must not have been on a substantial scale. Unlike the situation further south, there is little evidence of the presence of coast traders in the interior or of any coastal cultural influences before the latter part of the eighteenth century. the coastal plain The coastal plain of Kenya and Tanzania, though narrow, is made up largely of relatively fertile, sandy soil with fresh water available in most places. It is thus very suitable for settled agriculture. It enjoys a rainfall reliable and substantial enough to support crops, such as coconuts and rice, associated with humid environment. The coastline itself is a significant factor influencing life in the region and encouraging contact with other lands touched by the Indian Ocean. The shore is provided considerable protection from ocean waves by the coral reefs, which line it. Moreover, the shallow off-shore waters are the habitat of large numbers of small fish, and these have long formed an important part of the diet of coast inhabitants. The configuration of the shore also makes it well suited for use by small boats. They can sail in at high tide and anchor a distance from the shore. When the low tide sets in, the boat comes to rest on the gently sloping lower section of the shore and can be easily unloaded by hand. As a result, any part of the coastline which is protected by coral reefs and free from mangrove swamps can serve as a suitable harbor. The most important harbors of the coast provide even better protection for boats. A number of deep inlets have been formed from old estuaries, which are now submerged by the sea. Good examples of this type are the harbors of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. Some of these inlets have islands within or associated with them, as is the case with Mombasa, the Lamu group, and Kilwa. Close to the mainland while still being protected by water, such islands early became the sites of important towns. The larger offshore islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia are part of the coastal region as well. Their soil and climate are very similar to those of areas along the coast, but these islands normally receive more rainfall. These and the small coastal islands attracted settlers and fostered the establishment of towns from an early period, but almost all of these were [44.221.43.88] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 20:16 GMT) 36 | chapter three established on the west or landward side since the eastern side is exposed to ocean storms. The modern Somali coast, which historically and culturally is part of the East African coastal region, enjoys an environment quite different from that just described. It lacks the plentiful rainfall found further south, and the coastal belt, especially in the north, tends to be rather arid with sand dunes often extending right down to the shore...