GLIMPSES OF EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR 



and I to come too, at the same time asking 

 another leading Parsi gentleman and his wife. 

 When I arrived I found several Parsis already 

 there ; later on came the Aga Khan's cousin and 

 some elderly (and ugly) Indians, wearing their gold 

 turbans and long coats, often trimmed with gold. 

 I shook hands with every one as they were pre- 

 sented to me, but, alas ! I knew no Hindustani 

 and they no English. Then from the open roof we 

 entered a sheltered part and sat round a table and 

 had tea, all according to precedence. I was seat- 

 ing myself anywhere, but was requested to take the 

 head of the table on my host's right hand, having 

 the "cousin" on my right, the little Parsi lady 

 being on our host's left. The "cousin" is a very 

 stout pasty-looking man, light in colour and dressed 

 in English clothes, with the exception of an astracan 

 tarboush. He talked English perfectly and has 

 travelled a great deal, and knows most of the capi- 

 tals of different countries. He was quiet at first 

 but later talked more. My host was charming, but 

 embarrassed me a little by putting his elbow on the 

 table and pointing to each Indian in turn who sat 

 round the table with us, telling me their private 

 history. Not understanding a word, some looked 

 quietly at me, others, especially one with a tremen- 

 dous squint, wriggled in their nervousness at being 

 pointed out. My husband could not come with me, 

 and it was a strange feeling being the only English 



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