XI 



TRAVELS m EASTERN AFRICA 



499 



trary, they had been sent to my agent by General 

 Sir Lloyd Matthews, who directed him to supply the 

 men with food at my expense until the time I should 

 arrive. I rented a comfortable Arab stone house just 

 off the main street of the town, and therein established 

 myself with such of my followers as had remained 

 faithful to me. 



I found that the American Consul, Mr. Jones, who 

 had been in charge of the interests of the United States 

 in 1892, had left Zanzibar, and that Mr. Allen was 

 at that time acting Consul. Mr. Allen had been 

 less than two years in Zanzibar, during which time 

 he was in charge of the mercantile house of Arnold, 

 Cheny & Co., of New York. Prior to his arrival 

 there he had had no experience in diplomacy or con- 

 sular matters ; but throughout the time I remained 

 in Zanzibar he showed himself thoroughly equipped 

 for such work, and did all in his power to look after 

 the interests of his Government, and to prevent my 

 being treated with injustice. 



A short time after reaching Zanzibar I paid a visit 

 to General Sir Lloyd Matthews, who was Prime 

 Minister to the Sultan's government. During my 

 absence up-country Great Britain had declared a pro- 

 tectorate over the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba ; 

 and, as an easy mode of ruling these islands, had made 

 use of the machinery of the native government, which 

 was controlled and directed by means of General Mat- 

 thews, the Sultan's Prime Minister, who in turn was 

 controlled by the British Agent and Consul-General. 



Unfortunately for me, Mr. Rennell Rodd, who had 

 succeeded to the post of British Agent and Consul- 



