SLAVE THIEVES. 261 



to Wahhabi prejudice ; nor did we suffer from 

 the rose-water ablutions of which M. Guillain 

 complains. Feminine eyes did not peep at us 

 from the inner apartments ; but we were fronted 

 by well-dressed slaves who, as we pass through 

 the crowded outer hall, will steal, if they can, 

 the gilt tassels from our sword-knots, and who 

 have picked the pockets of guests, even when 

 dining with their Prince. H. H. the Sayyicl 

 Majid took considerable interest in our projected 

 journey, and suggested that a field-piece might 

 be useful to frighten the Washenzi (wild men). 

 We left the palace much pleased with the kind- 

 ness and cordiality of its owner, into whose ear, 

 moreover, evil tongues had whispered the very 

 worst reports. 



The Government of Zanzibar is a royal ma- 

 gistracy, the only form of rule to which the primi- 

 tive and undisciplinable Eastern Arab will submit . 

 Whenever a new measure is brought forward 

 by the Sayyid it is invariably opposed by the 

 chiefs of clans, who assemble and address him 

 more like an equal than a superior. One of the 

 princes of Maskat corrected this turbulent feu- 

 dality after the fashion of Mohammed Ali Pasha 

 and his Mamluk Beys ; even now a few summary 

 examples might be made to good purpose. In 



