EXPENSE. 



325 



the Arab and the E. African trade, it is perf erred 

 by the people simply because they know it. The 

 popular names are Riyal (i.e. real, royal) or Girsh 

 (groschen, 'broad' pieces). Spanish dollars (bu 

 taken, c father of window,' whence our 6 patak'), 

 elsewhere 8 per cent, more valuable, are here only 

 equal to Maria Theresas. In 1846 a French 

 Mission failed to fix the agio of the 5 franc 

 piece at 10 per cent, below the Spanish dollar, 

 which still remained 12.50 to 14 per cent, more 

 valuable. The Company's rupee, better metal 

 than both the above, being still a comparative 

 stranger, loses nearly a quarter of its value. Other 

 silver pieces are the ' Robo ' (Spanish quarter 

 dollar) of 25 cents, and the pistoline (20 cents); 

 these, however, are subject to heavy agio. Small 

 change is always rare, another sure sign of 

 thriftlessness, and it is strange how scarce is 

 bullion in a land so wealthy : I can only account 

 for the fact by the Oriental practice of burying 

 treasure. 1 



"Where men reside solely for gain and sorely 

 against the grain, little can be expected from 

 society. Every merchant hopes and expects to 

 leave Zanzibar for ever, as soon as he can realize a 

 certain sum ; every agent would persuade his em- 



1 For other details concerning the currency see the Appendix. 



