CHAPTER XIX 



TIPPOO TIB AND OTHEK MATTEES 



His origin and work — heat — official etiquette — native diseases — 

 deaths — jiggers — plague — a remarkable story — lunatics. 



When first arriving at Zanzibar we went to the 

 " Tippoo Tib Hotel ". Of course my curiosity was 

 aroused immediately by the name. I was told it 

 was a house which until quite recently had be- 

 longed to an influential Arab named, or rather nick- 

 named, Tippoo Tib. It was a large Arab house, 

 but as is usual, most of the space was given up to 

 the central hall, and the rooms were small. Tippoo 

 Tib died in 1905, possessed of many houses and 

 shambas in Zanzibar, and about fourteen children. 



For fifty years he was the leading spirit of 

 Central Africa around Lake Tanganyika and the 

 Eastern Congo, penetrating farther and farther 

 with his large caravans in search of ivory and 

 slaves. 



His real name was Hamed bin Muhammed. 

 Tippoo Tib was a nickname given to him on account 

 of a habit he had of blinking his eyes. He came 

 of Arab parents, with a negro strain, his great- 



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