SUPPLIES. 



17 



and they are said to pray little. The population 

 is held to be half that of Zanzibar, upon less than 

 two -thirds, perhaps only one -half, of the area ; 

 but this appears a considerable exaggeration. 



Pemba supplies her bigger sister-isle with a 

 little excellent ghee and poor rice. The principal 

 exports are cocoas and cloves ; and here, as every 

 where along the coast, cowries are plentiful. 

 Bullocks, reared on the island, cost from §6 to 

 §10; sheep, brought from the mainland, $3 to $4 ; 

 and goats, which are rare and dear, from $7 to §9. 

 Cash is evidently not wanting. Powls are sold 

 at 20 to 23 for $1 — half the price of Zanzibar, — 

 and eggs are very cheap, two or three being pro- 

 cured for a pice. The people complain that this 

 year all provisions are exceptionally dear. The 

 Banyans, who make Pemba their head- quarters, 

 demand high agio for small change, giving only 

 111 pice for the German crown, whereas 128 is 

 the legal rate at the capital. They also regulate 

 the price of provisions according to the Zanzi- 

 bar market. They have different weights and 

 measures — the Kaylah, for instance, is greater — 

 and, as usual in these regions, they keep the 

 gross amount of exports and imports a profound 

 secret. 



Our gallant captain of the beard—' the Lord 



VOL. II. 2 



