GLIMPSES OF EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR 



the shore one sees them ; on the golf links rest is 

 obtained for one's weary body on a tombstone, 

 while the partner drives off, though as a matter 

 of fact, I think those particular graves belong to 

 some Europeans. A card party of Swahilis will be 

 found among the tombs, in fact the living and the 

 dead are always together, and goats enjoy playing 

 at being chamoix as they jump from stone to 

 stone. 



Soon after our arrival the Arabs and Swahilis 

 had their fete day, " Siku Kuu " (great day), 

 coming at the end of the fast of Ramathan, a 

 month during which they are not supposed to eat 

 from sunrise to sunset. If a man is really weak 

 and old or sick, he may eat, but not otherwise ; 

 however, they make up for it at night by simply 

 gorging. The new moon is watched for at the end 

 of the month, and if dull two days are allowed to 

 pass, then the Sultan comes on to the verandah of 

 his palace and gives the sign, and a feu-de-joie is 

 fired, the fast is over and the feast begun. Then 

 the Mnazi Moja is crowded with natives, there are 

 swinging boats, and eating tents, like an ordinary 

 fair at home ; it is a good-natured though noisy 

 crowd, every one struts about in his best, and the 

 ladies (Swahili) walk about in the brightest costumes 

 and cleanest of ankle frills, laughing and flirting. 

 The Arabs always wear a belt in which they stick a 

 Jambia (dagger), which is curved, and most wonder- 



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