10 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 



D. Isaacs & Co., of Cape Town, have kindly supplied me with prices, 

 etc. They employ about 200 men in the manufacture of furniture, and 

 import directly from the United States. 



C. H. BENEDICT, 



Consul. 

 CAPE TOWN, March 12, 1894. 



ZANZIBAR. 



NATIVE WOODS. 



The native woods used in building are mangrove and cocoanut. 

 Besides these, there are the mango and a small fir. 



IMPORTS, DUTY, AND PRICES. 



Very little lumber is imported, and that little comes from England 

 and India. 



There is no import duty on lumber. The price varies greatly, and 

 depends on the supply and exchange. 



CLIMATE. 



The climate is tropical, Zanzibar being 6 south of the equator. 

 There is a long and a short rainy season, and a hot and cool season. 

 During the latter, the thermometer averages about 80. 



GENERAL BUILDING. 



There is no ship or railroad building, except that at Tanga, 75 miles 

 north of here. A railroad is now being commenced 5 all materials for 

 its construction come from Germany. 



All houses, except native swahili huts, are built of coral rock and 

 lime. For ceilings and roofs, mangrove poles are laid across and coral 

 rock and native cement filled in. Doors between rooms are unusual. 

 Outside doors are mostly made of teak, brought from Bombay. Native 

 huts are made of a framework of mangrove poles tied together the 

 spaces between poles being filled in with mud; the roofs are of cocoa- 

 nut leaves. 



There is not a single wooden house in Zanzibar or vicinity. It would 

 be impossible to live in them on account of the heat. 



EXTENSION OF LUMBER TRADE. 



The quantity of lumber used is so limited that it would not be 

 profitable to export from the United States to this place. 



J. W. ALLEN, 



Acting Consul. 

 ZANZIBAR, March 22, 1894. 



