Bargash, the then Sultan of Zanzibar, gave for an
annual rental a concession of his mainland
territories to the British East Africa Association, which
in 1888 was formed into the Imperial British East
Africa Company. In 1895 the Foreign Office took
over control of the Company's possessions, and a
Protectorate was proclaimed; and ten years later
the administration of the country was transferred
to the Colonial Office.

The last serious fighting on the island took place
so recently as 1895-6, when a Swahili chief named
M'baruk bin Rashed, who had three times
previously risen in rebellion against the Sultan of
Zanzibar, attempted to defy the British and to
throw off their yoke. He was defeated on several
occasions, however, and was finally forced to flee
southwards into German territory. Altogether,
Mombasa has in the past well deserved its native
name of Kisiwa M'vitaa, or " Isle of War"; but
under the settled rule now obtaining, it is rapidly
becoming a thriving and prosperous town, and as
the port of entry for Uganda, it does a large
forwarding trade with the interior and has several
excellent stores where almost anything, from a
needle to an anchor, may readily be obtained.

Kilindini is, as I have said, on the opposite side
of the island, and as its name -- "the place of deep
waters" -- implies, has a much finer harbour than