MORE DETAILS OF THE ARABS AND ZANZIBAR 



fully ornamented with silver wire and sometimes 

 jewels. Five pounds is a price they ask for a good 

 one now. 



The old Arab silver and brass are most fascinat- 

 ing to collect, the naval ships and the liners spoil the 

 market by the officers and passengers coming ashore 

 and giving any fancy price for Arab curios ; prices 

 have so gone up, it makes it almost impossible to 

 be a serious collector. Some of the older official 

 inhabitants of Zanzibar have beautiful collections, 

 which cost their happy owners very little, prices 

 being lower in the old days, and the Arabs very 

 generous in making presents. 



I wandered through the bazaar often, poking 

 my nose into the pawnbrokers' shops, guided by 

 Baruku, to try and pick up a few things. It was 

 a fascinating occupation, and a great bond between 

 us exiles, comparing specimens and prices. Some of 

 the brass and copper are very well, though roughly 

 made. There are an old Beluchi and an Arab 

 who have a corner stand in the market, who sell 

 ancient Arab and Indian things ; the old Beluchi is 

 as fair in his prices as any one. Brass and copper 

 water-pitchers and ewers used by the Arabs are 

 quaint and pretty ; little boxes, both in brass and 

 silver, for the areca nut, betel leaves, and lime they 

 chew ; long silver boxes used as inkstands ; little 

 cases for words of the Koran to hang round a Mo- 

 hammedan's neck or waist by chains ; boxes to hold 



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