Page "History of Comoros" Paragraph 4

Apart from a visit by the French Parmentier brothers in 1529, for much of the 16th century the only Europeans to visit the islands were Portuguese ; British and Dutch ships began arriving at the turn of the century and the island of Ndzwani became a major supply point on the route to the East.

Ndzwani was generally ruled by a single sultan, who occasionally attempted to extend his authority to Mayotte and Mwali ; Ngazidja was more fragmented, on occasion being divided into as may as 12 small kingdoms.