xii 



PREFACE. 



earlier portion of his peregrinations, and who has so ably 

 and efficiently performed his part as editor. Had a cer- 

 tain publisher carried out his expressed intention of intro- 

 ducing a resume of this fine work in English dress to the 

 British public, I should have saved myself the trouble 

 of writing these volumes : the Eeisen, however, in the 

 original form are hardly likely to become popular. More- 

 over, the long interval of a decade has borne fruit : it has 

 given me time to work out the subject, and, better still, to 

 write with calmness and temper upon a theme of the most 

 temper-trying nature, — chap. xii. vol. II. will explain 

 what is meant. Finally, I have something important to 

 say upon the subject of the so-called Victoria Nyanza 

 Lake. 



I had proposed to enrich the Appendix with extracts 

 from Arab and other mediaeval authors, who have treated 

 of Zanzibar, Island and Coast. Such an addition, however, 

 would destroy all proportion between the book and its 

 subject: I have therefore confined myself to notes on com- 

 merce and tariffs of prices in 1857 to 1859, to meteorolo- 

 gical observations, and to Capt. Smee's coasting voyage, 

 which dates from January, 1811. The latter will supply 

 an excellent birds-eye view of those parts of the Zanzibar 

 mainland which were not visited by the East African Ex- 

 pedition. 



Eichard F. Burton. 



London, Oct. 15, 1871. 



