APPENDIX III. 



513 



altlioug-li as harbours tliey do not possess near tlie ad- 

 vantages tliat Zanzibar does. 



The dress of the people in general is a coloured 

 wrapper round their loins. The better sort have, in addi- 

 tion, a loose white cloth over their shoulders, and round 

 their bod}^ The Arabs wear turbans, while the Souallies, 

 Sooraallies, and negroes go bareheaded. 



The port of Patta, in lat. 2« 8' S., has little or no trade 

 on account of the intricacy of its harbours and the ne- 

 farious conduct of its inhabitants. It would appear the 

 Surat traders are subject to much imposition and ex- 

 tortion at Zanzibar, as the Hakim, over and above the 

 usual duties of 5 per cent., seizes such part of their cargoes 

 as he fancies ; and the maquedahs ^ of the three vessels 

 now here have declared to me that, in collecting the 

 duties on Surat goods imported, he is not guided by any 

 invoice prices, but fixes a valuation on them far below the 

 prime cost from the hands of the manufacturer ; and as 

 he (the Hakim) pays himself in kind, takes good care to 

 detain for his own use such articles as are most saleable at 

 the time, by which means the merchant pays on an average 

 15 per cent., and sometimes more, beyond the established 

 rates fixed by the Imaum of Muscat. 



(Signed) Thomas Smee, Commander. 



On Board the H. C.'s ship Ternate, 

 Zanzibar Harbour, 6th April, 1811. 



^ Nakliudas, native skippers. 



VOL. II. 



33 



