1870.] THE " SAFURA " DISEASE. 83 



Brava, and at Madagascar, as if the sperm whale got rid of 

 it while alive. Lamoo or Amu is wealthy, and well supplied 

 with everything, as grapes, peaches, wheat, cattle, camels, &c. 

 The trade is chiefly Avith Madagascar : the houses are richly 

 furnished with furniture, dishes from India, &c. At Garaganza 

 there are hundreds of Arab traders, there too all fruits 

 abound, and the climate is healthy, from its elevation. Why 

 cannot we missionaries imitate these Arabs in living on 

 heights ? 



24:th November. — Herpes is common at the plantations in 

 Zanzibar, but the close crowding of the houses in the town 

 they think prevents it; the lips and mouth are affected, 

 and constipation sets in for three days, all this is cured by 

 going over to the mainland. Affections of the lungs are 

 healed by residence at Bariwa or Brava, and also on the 

 mainland. The Tafori of Halfani took my letters from 

 Ujiji, but who the person employed is I do not know. 



29th November. — Safura is the name of the disease of 

 clay or earth eating, at Zanzibar ; it often affects slaves, 

 and the clay is said to have a pleasant odour to the eaters, 

 but it is not confined to slaves, nor do slaves eat in order 

 to kill themselves ; it is a diseased appetite, and rich men 

 who have plenty to eat are often subject to it. The feet 

 swell, flesh is lost, and the face looks haggard ; the patient 

 can scarcely walk for shortness of breath and weakness, and 

 he continues eating till he dies. Here many slaves are now 

 diseased with safura ; the clay built in walls is preferred, 

 and Manyuema women when pregnant often eat it. The 

 cure is effected by drastic purges composed as follows : old 

 vinegar of cocoa-trees is put into a large basin, and old slag 

 red-hot cast into it, then " Money e," asafoatida, half a rupee 

 in weight, copperas, sulph. ditto: a small glass of this, 

 fasting morning and evening, produces vomiting and purg- 

 ing of black dejections, this is continued for seven days ; 

 no meat is to be eaten, but only old rice or dura and 



g 2 



