DI^GO-SUAREZ, ETC. — RjfiUNION 561
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DIEGO-SUAREZ, NOSSI-BE, 8*^ MARIE.
Those possessions were, by decree of January 28, 1896, placed under the autliority of the Resident- General of Madagascar, and have thus become dependencies of that colony.
Diego-Suarez, a territory of still undefined extent, on a bay of the same' name at the northern extremity of Madagascar, is held by the French in; accordance -with a treaty of Decend)er 17, 1885. At the census of 1887 the population (including the garrison) was 4.567. The chief town of the: colony is Antsirame.
Nossi-Be Island, close to Avest coast of Madagascar, with an area of 113' S(j[uare miles, has 7,803 inhabitants, chiefly Malagasy and Africans. Chief productions, sugar-cane, coffee, and rice. Imports into France from Nossi- Be in 1897, 636,000 francs; exports from France to the island, 539,000 francs.
S'®- Marie, on the north coast of Madagascar, was taken by France as early as 1643. It covers 64 square miles ; population, 7,667 ; chief export, cloves. Imports into France in 1897, 74,610 francs, and exports from France to the island, 108,000 francs.
MAYOTTE AND THE COMORO ISLANDS.
The island of Mayotte (140 square miles) has a population (1898) of 11,640 inhabitants. The chief production is cane-sugar, 3,020 tons of sugar in 1897 ; there arc 7 sugar works and 3 distilleries of rum. Vanilla cultivation has recently much extended ; in 1897, 8,200 kilogrammes were produced of excellent quality. Important coffee plantations are being made. Local budget (1898), revenue, 322,000 francs ; expenditure, 317,000 francs. The subvention from France was 31,000 francs. This aid decreases annually by one-tenth, but in consequence of the cyclone of February, 1898, the French Treasury has lent the colony 500,000 francs, repayable in 20 years without interest. Expenditure of France (budget of 1899), 45,014 francs. The Glorieuse Archipelago (with 14 inhabitants) Iwlongs to Mayotte.
The Comoro Islands, situated half-way between Madagascar and the African coast, consist of 4 larger and a number of smaller islands, with an area of about 620 square miles. They are under the authority of the Administrator of ^layotte. Sugar and vanilla are successfully cultivated, and the culture of coffee and of cloves is Iteing tried. Each of the i.slands has its own budget, the tot;il being about 240,000 francs. They receive no subvention. Grande Comore has a debt of about 950,000 francs. They now possess an important coal depot. They were taken under French [)rotection in 1886. The population is estimated at 53,000, ehielly Mussulmans.
REUNION.
Reunion, about 420 miles east of Madagascar, has belonged to France since 1764. It is represented by a senator and two dejmties. It has an area of 965 square miles and population (1893) of 171,713(23,161 British Indians,
