CHAPTER XX 



HISTORY OF ZANZIBAR 



Early history — Seyyid Said — a princess's romance — abolition of 

 slave trade — Barghash's visit to England — improvements 

 in Zanzibar — succeeding Sultans — British influence — efforts 

 at suppressing the slave trade — the two Governments — 

 matters leading to the bombardment. 



As a place is douMy interesting to tlio visitor if 

 he knows sonietliiii}^' of its past and present liiston , 

 I think it would not he amiss to give a very slij^dit 

 sketch of the history of Zanzibar. 



Zanzibar was originally inhal)ited by natives 

 more or less like those of the coast, of a coarse 

 black negro type. For 'JOO years, from the be- 

 ginning of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese 

 governed Zanzibar and the coast land opposite ; 

 their rule was succeeded by that of the Imaums of 

 Oman, which however did not count for much till 

 about 100 years ago. From that time onwards 

 Zanzibar is entitled to a history of its own, at the 

 same time interesting and intelligible. 



Sultan bin Ahmed, Imaum of Oman and ruler 

 of Muscat, died in the year 1804. His two sons, 



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