ABSTRACT
ʿUmân had ancient commercial ties with East Africa, made practicable by the pattern of monsoons and profitable by the availability of ivory and slaves. ʿUmân's involvement in East Africa altered with circumstances. The geographical extent of Muslim settlement was determined by the monsoons. The mid section of East Africa's mainland and island coasts called in Arabic al-sawâḩil was served by the Northeast monsoon which brought vessels from South Arabia and India and by the Southwest monsoon which allowed the return voyage. The Frenchmen with vested interests on the island wanted it to remain the major settlement and were therefore pleased by ʿUmân assistance. In 1765, another envoy, representing Mombasa and Kilwa, suggested to the Portuguese that they return to the coast, as people were tired of the ʿUmânîs. Indirectly, this did encourage an abortive expedition against Mombasa in late 1769, after which it was clear that the Portuguese could not and would not retake the Sawâḩil.
