ANIMALS AND INSECTS OF ZANZIBAR 



which never washes out. How poetical people can 

 talk of the " soothing buzz " of a mosquito is beyond 

 me ; to me it is as good as a cup of strong coffee for 

 keeping me awake. I heard a good way of stop- 

 ping them from biting you, the other day, which 

 out of the kindness of my heart I will tell the 

 reader. 



Carefully tuck your net well in under the 

 mattress all round your bed, then sleep on the sofa. 

 You may be sure the mosquitoes will spend their 

 night trying to find a way into the netting. 



Of domestic animals, horses will live if cared for 

 in the town, but die quickly outside. Many of the 

 horses from the Sultan's stables died when taken to 

 his palace at Chukwani about six miles out. They 

 all look rather poor creatures, and the syces drive 

 them to pieces on the hard roads. Mules do better, 

 but most valuable of all is the little Muscat donkey, 

 often fetching thirty pounds or forty pounds each, 

 ridden by the Arabs : sometimes I have seen two 

 men on one donkey ambling along with no trouble. 

 The sound of their little quick triple is most plea- 

 sant to hear, and they go along so easily. These 

 donkeys are white, but usually coloured red-brown 

 with henna, which makes them look curiously un- 

 natural. The donkey is driven by one rein only, 

 and a piece of cord round its muzzle and no bit ; 

 very often this simple harness is most richly adorned. 

 Then there is the small common grey donkey with a 



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