582 WE REACH ZANZIBAR. Chap. XXVIII. 



traders with the miserable pittance he receives for his 

 support. 



While at Mosainbique, a species of Pedalia called by Mr. 

 Soares Badeleira, and by the natives — from its resemblance to 

 G-erzilin, or sesamum — " wild sesanmm," was shown to us, and 

 is said to be well known among native nurses as a very gentle 

 and tasteless aperient for children. A few leaves of it are 

 stirred in a cup of cold water for eight or nine seconds, and a 

 couple of teaspoonfuls of the liquid given as a dose. The 

 leaves form a sort of mucilage in the water by longer stirring, 

 which is said to have diuretic properties besides. 



On the 16th April we steamed out from Mosambique ; and, 

 the currents being in our favour, in a week reached Zanzibar. 

 Here we experienced much hospitality from our countrymen, 

 and especially from Dr. Seward, then acting consul and 

 political agent for Colonel Playfair. A peculiarity in all our 

 countrymen whom we have met abroad is the attention they 

 pay to the comfort of the stranger. We cannot complain of 

 a want of hospitality in other nations, but we have to wait till 

 the time of the usual meal comes round ; and, in the interval, 

 our Dutch and other friends used to put a string of questions : 

 '• Where do you come from ? Where are you bound for ? 

 What do you mean to do ? Are you married ? If not, why 

 not ? " and many more of the same kind ; but, so far as our 

 experience goes, the Englishman's first inquiries were, " Have 

 you breakfasted? What will you take? Have some cold 

 meat ? " All were kind ; but, from being English ourselves, we 

 preferred our own countrymen's way of showing hospitality. 



Dr. Seward was very doubtful if we could reach Bombay 

 before what is called the break of the monsoon took place. 

 This break occurs usually between the end of May and the 

 12th of June. The wind still blows from Africa to India, 

 but with so much violence, and with such a murky at- 



