32 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



February, Charlie, Eosaii, and tlie various Portuguese Joes, gatlieriiig to- 

 isid. gether those little odds and ends so necessary in rough travel. 

 For a caravan should be as thoroughly independent as a ship, 

 or even more so, since after having started from the coast no 

 opportunities occur of purchasing such small items as needles, 

 thread, buttons, etc., etc., on which much comfort in a great 

 measure depends. 



Tarya Topan was one of the most influential of the Indian 

 traders, and was also more inclined to assist us than any other. 



French Charlie was an oddity who required to be known to 

 be appreciated, and, from being cook at the English consulate, 

 had now arrived at an important position in society at Zanzibar. 

 All H.M. ships arriving there he supplied with fresh beef and 

 bread, and he was proprietor of the only approach to a hotel 

 in the island. He had a miscellaneous collection of stores of 

 all sorts and descriptions, and, being utterly unable to read or 

 write, had a most imperfect knowledge of what he possessed, 

 'and was content to ask a would-be purchaser to overhaul his 

 stores, and if he succeeded in finding what he required, to give 

 a fair price for it. 



Without learning English, he had partially forgotten French, 

 an amusing mixture of the two being the result. It is need- 

 less to say his affairs are rather in disorder ; but nevertheless he 

 thrives and is prosperous, one reason for this jjrobably being 

 his great generosity, for I believe few could find it in them to 

 cheat him. 



Eosan was an American, who kept a miscellaneous store; and 

 the Portuguese Joes are Goanese doing business as tailors, hair- 

 cutters, grog-sellers, and, in fact, turning their hand to any thing 

 and every thing. 



Dr. Kirk obtained for us letters of recommendation from the 

 sultan, and, what was perhaps still more important, from the 

 Indian merchant who farms the customs, to whom nearly every 

 trader in the interior owes money, so that his injunctions could 

 not lightly be disregarded. 



We were entertained at farewell dinners at the consulate and 

 on board the flag-ship Glasgow, jmd again took our departure 

 for Bagamoyo in a dhow well laden with our belongings. On 

 arrival, we had the satisfaction of being effusively and noisily 



