ZANZIBAR 



the sea, beyond the dhobi's washing ground, where 

 they tear and spoil our linen, by rubbing it on stones ; 

 on this piece of land grow a few solitary cocoanut 

 palms and grass, and standing solemnly silhouetted 

 against the sky are generally a few camels, led 

 there in the evening to feed, and making quite a 

 pretty picture. 



About three miles out one passes a flag-staff 

 flying the Sultan's red flag. This place is called 

 Sherif Msa, after a pious Arab who took the journey 

 to Mecca ; but on his return he died, and instead of 

 being thrown overboard was brought to Zanzibar. 

 However, near this point the boat was wrecked, and 

 his body washed ashore in pieces. On the return 

 drive a glorious view of Zanzibar town is to be seen, 

 stretching out on the farther point of a bay, with 

 MeHndi and the dhows and native boats forming a 

 foreground. The middle road, which leads across 

 the island to Chwaka, has one or two pretty peeps 

 of tropical vegetation, which include the tall palms 

 which show up so grandly against an evening sky. 



This vegetation decidedly needs distance to lend 

 enchantment ; for at close quarters it is dull, dusty, 

 and coarse and of too uniform a colour of dundy 

 green. But one passes through the sweet-smelling 

 woods of cloves which at certain times scent the air 

 for miles. 



The third drive leads to one of the Sultan's 

 palaces at Chwani, the grounds of which are the 



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