GLIMPSES OF EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR 



bear nuts, but go on for more than half a century ; 

 from the milk of the nuts they make their tembo 

 of two kinds, intoxicating and non-intoxicating, and 

 vinegar ; and from the ripe fruit, oil (an excellent 

 thing for cleaning furniture and stained floors) ; the 

 meat is used for cooking curries and cakes. The 

 cocoanut palm and its fruit affords them fuel, mats, 

 ropes, roofs of leaves for their houses, water ladles 

 from the shells, and so on and so forth almost ad 

 injinitum. They have a variety of names for the nut 

 at different stages and ages, which is rather con- 

 fusing. 



The hottest months in Zanzibar are January, 

 February and March, but before the monsoons be- 

 gin in November, December and April it is almost 

 as unbearable. The place has a horrid damp cli- 

 mate, which is very enervating and exhausting. 

 When it rains it does rain in Zanzibar, beginning 

 the big rains sometimes in March, and again the 

 little rains in November or perhaps later. Some 

 years the rain considerately clears up at four 

 o'clock P.M., when it is bright and soon dries to 

 allow people to play their games ; but it is most un- 

 fortunate when it insists on raining during those 

 hours of exercise. 



At intervals the officials and their wives rush to 

 gain renewed life at one of the few health resorts. 

 Chwaka I have already mentioned, where weary 

 people can rest and bathe and get a breath more 



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