CHAP. I 



TRAVELS m EASTERN AFRICA 



15 



The town of Lamoo is situated about twenty-three 

 miles from Mkonumbi, on an island bearing the same 

 name. It is inhabited by a people very different from 

 the Arabs of Zanzibar. While it is true there are some 

 pure-blooded Arabs among them, yet most of the people 

 are the product of union between Arabs and natives of 

 the islands of Lamoo, Manda, Patta, and Siu. It is un- 

 certain whence the natives of these islands originally 

 came. They are lighter in colour than the inhabitants 

 of the coast, more intelligent, and, in a degree, their life 

 is more civilized. In the native manufactures they ex- 

 cel ; and the caps and sandals of better manufacture 

 worn in Zanzibar all come from these islands. They 

 are a light-hearted and treacherous race. They carr)^ 

 to a much higher point than the natives of any other 

 portion of the coast of East Africa ideas of organized 

 amusement. As far as it went, they had a keen idea of 

 sport. On certain days of the year they had boat races, 

 foot races, and matches of all sorts, in which both sexes 

 took part. It is needless to add that their morals were 

 of the lowest possible order. 



The governor of the town of Lamoo was a cousin 

 of the Sultan of Zanzibar, by name Abdullah Ben 

 Hamed. The British East Africa Company had 

 leased the trading^ ris^hts of the coast from the Sultan of 

 Zanzibar. At the town of Lamoo this company was 

 represented by two oflficials, who, through the influence 

 of the Arab governor, and by his assistance, managed to 

 preserve some sort of discipline and order there. Be- 

 side these two representatives of the British East 

 Africa Company, two other Europeans resided there, 

 Germans, named Teide and Denhardt, engaged in trade 



