a seaport-town of Africa, on a small island, 3 miles in length by 2 in breadth, in a bay on the coast of Zanzibar, in Lat. 4° 4' S., Long. 39° 38' E. The bay in which the island is situated is about 5 miles in length by 3 in breadth, and forms the harbour of Mombas, said to be one of the best in the world. The coasts of the island consist of steep cliffs of madrepore, and render the town almost impregnable; while it is still further defended by an old Portuguese fort, situated on an elevation to the S. of the town. The town, which is in a wretched and ruinous condition, consists of two parts,—one occupied by Arabs, the other by Sowhylese, a Moorish race, who inhabit a great part of this coast. Although Mombas is very suitable both as a commercial and military station, it seems to be less used in the former capacity than Uzi, a town which absorbs most of the trade of the neighbourhood. Mombas was first visited by the Portuguese under Vasco de Gama in 1498, and the town was then large and flourishing. In 1505 Francisco de Almeida, the Portuguese viceroy of India, in revenge for some insults offered by the inhabitants, took and burned the town. It was, however, afterwards rebuilt, when the Portuguese in 1529 returned and repeated their work of destruction. From that date to 1720 it was held by the Portuguese. In the latter year Mombas fell into the hands of the Imam of Muscat, but he was soon dispossessed by a rebellion of the inhabitants. From 1824 to 1826 the town came under British protection; but it is now governed by an Arab sheikh. Pop. 3000 or 4000.

MOMPox, a river-port town of New Granada, capital of a province of the same name, in the department of Magdalena. It is situated on the left bank of the Magdalena River, about 20 miles above its confluence with the Cauca. Lat. 9° 15' N., Long. 74° 30' W. The town is regularly laid out, with broad streets crossing each other at right angles. Some of the houses near the centre of the town are well built; but the greater part of them are little more than mere sheds. Mompos has a handsome custom-house, and a quay sufficiently elevated above the stream to be secure from the great floods, which in the month of December raise the waters of the river 10 or 12 feet above their usual level. This town is of considerable importance, being the great commercial emporium for the Magdalena valley. The climate is very warm and moist; and the neighbourhood is infested with alligators and mosquitos. Pop. (1851) 11,600.