The Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, a volcanic archipelago located in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean 300 miles (483 km.) northwest of Madagascar has an area of 838 sq. mi. (1,797 sq. km.) and a population of 714,000. Capital: Moroni. The economy of the islands is based on agriculture. There are practically no mineral resources. Vanilla, essence for perfumes, copra, and sisal are exported. ,Ancient Phoenician traders were probably the first visitors to the Comoros Islands, but the first detailed knowledge of the area was gathered by Arab sailors. Arab dominion and culture were firmly established when the Portuguese, Dutch, and French arrived in the 16th century. In 1843 a Malagasy ruler ceded the island of Mayotte to France; the other three principal islands of the archipelago ? Anjouan, Moheli, and Grand Comore ? cam under French protection in 1886. The islands were joined administratively with Madagascar in 1912. The Comoros became partially autonomous, with the status of a French overseas territory in 1946 and achieved completed internal autonomy in 1961. On December 31, 1975, after 133 years pf French association, the Comoros Islands became the independent Republic of the Comoros.,, ,Mayotte retained the option of determining its future ties and in 1976 voted to remain French. Its present status is that of a French Territorial Collectivity. French coinage and currency circulates there.,, Rulers:,,, ,French to 1975,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Franc = 100 Centimes,,