Mozambique

(mo-zām-beek',) in S.E. Africa, a long strip of territory washed by the waters of the Mozambique Channel, extending from Cape Delgado in S. Lat. 10°41' to Delagoa Bay. It belongs to Portugal, and its area is estimated at 283,500 sq. m. Coast-line bold; soil fertile, watered by the Zambesi, Sofala, and Limpopo rivers. Chief products, grain, gold-dust, pearls, copper, tortoise-shell, and amber. C. Mozambique, a seaport with 5,000 in hab. Pop. of ter., 300,000.-M. CHANNEL, that section of the Indian Ocean which lies bet. the island of Madagascar and the African mainland of Mozambique. Length, 1,000 m.; mean breadth, 450 m. Towards its N. entrance are the Comoro group and other islands. [s. 622]