APPENDIX III. 



491 



remarkable for their length. In the middle of the town 

 we observed a tree^ of uncommon size : its height was about 

 8 or 10 feet, and from a rude measurement which we took, 

 its circumference could not, I think, be less than 36 or 40 

 (Note 18). Zanzibar according to our observations stands 

 in lat. 6° 6' S., and long. 39« 15' E.^ (Note 19.) It is the 

 only assemblage of habitations on the island that deserves 

 the name of town or even village ; for the principal part of 

 the inhabitants without the town being slaves of land- 

 holders, are scattered over their respective owners' estates. 

 The sovereignty of the island belongs to the Imaum of 

 Muscat,^ who apjDoints the Hakim or governor, and to 

 whom the revenue derived from its commerce and land- 

 tenures devolves. This revenue is said to amount to 

 60,000 crowns annually, though I have reason to believe 

 it to be much more. His whole establishment consists of 

 the Hakim, an assistant or councillor, and three Arab 

 officers, to command the garrison. The present Hakim is 

 a slave of his own whose history is somewhat curious : he 

 is named Yacoud,* and was originally from Abyssinia : he 

 belonged to the Imaum's uncle and predecessor, who, de- 

 tecting him in some familiarities with one of his young 

 female slaves, caused him to be emasculated. Since his 

 former master's death he has become a great favourite 

 of the present one, who promoted him to this distant and 

 lucrative government, — perhaps considering that, as he 

 had lost all relish for the only pleasure that can induce an 

 Arab to dissipate his own or his master's money, he 



^ The Mbuyu, baobab or calabash tree (Adansonia digitata). 



2 Corrected to S. lat. 6° 9' 6" and E. long. 39° 14' 5". 



3 A mistake in title, which I have explained at full length. 

 * Of this Yakut (the ruby) many tales are still told. 



