272 



THE TREASURY. 



lows, do what they pleased with all unprotected 

 by treaty, and having a monopoly as tradesmen 

 between the wholesale white merchants and the 

 petty dealers of the coast, they soon became 

 wealthy. 



Land cess and port dues were unknown at 

 Zanzibar. The principal source of revenue was 

 the Custom House, where American and European 

 goods, bullion excepted, paid the 5 per cent, ad 

 valorem provided by commercial treaties. Cargo 

 from India paid 5*25, the fractions serving to 

 salary Custom House officials. The import was 

 levied on all articles transshipped in any ports of 

 the Zanzibar dominions, unless the cargo was 

 landed only till the vessel could be repaired. Of 

 course the tariff was complicated in the extreme, 

 c custom ' amongst orientals being the c rule of 

 thumb ' further west. The farmers appointed 

 all subordinate officials, and as these received in- 

 sufficient salaries, smuggling, especially in the 

 matters of ivory and slaves, came to their assist- 

 ance. The Wasawahili Makhadim, or serviles, 

 contributed an annual poll-tax of $1 per head, 

 and this may have amounted to 10,000 to 14,000 

 crowns per annum. The maximum total of the 

 late Sayyid's revenue was generally stated as 

 follows — 



