68 



The following further particulars are contained in a Report on the 

 Spice and other Cultivation of Zanzibar and Pemba (F. 0. Report, 1892 

 Misc. Series, No. 226) : — 



; The pepper plant growing in the island is Capsicum minimum, 

 usually termed the i shrubby capsicum,' and producing the bird's-eye 

 chillies forming the basis of cayenne pepper. This is to be found in a 

 small degree in every shamba, but the principal source from which the 

 annual exports are derived is the eastern side of Zanzibar, and the cul- 

 tivation her© is chiefly in the hands of the Wahadinu people. 



" Judging from ouservations made during my brief visit to this 

 portion of the island, east of Dunga, the chillie cultivation struck me as 

 being of a very scattered nature, generally small isolated patches from 

 half to one or two acres in extent, and combined with tobacco, tomato, 

 pumpkins, &c. I regret my inability to quote the annual total exports, 

 but 1 believe they are large, and an undoubted source of revenue. As 

 the chillie is. as yet, the only product of any value grown in this less 

 favoured portion of the island, 1 consider that this cultivation could be 

 extended, and that a little fostering care might be productive of much 

 advantage. It is a cultivation easily carried on, and calling for no 

 special trouble or skill, and the returns are certain and profitable. At 

 present the people are so blind to their own interests as to purposely 

 depreciate the value of this product. I undarstand through fear of 

 possible shortage by theft on the way down, owners actually damp the 

 chillies before dispatching, and it is often necessary, on their reaching 

 the Government < ustoms godowns, to dry them as quickly as is possi- 

 ble as the only chance of saving them. 



" Another variety ot pepper (? Capsicum annuum) bearing a larger 

 red and yellow pod is also cultivated, but the produce from this is all 

 consumed locally." 



The latest account of Zanzibar chillies is contained in the Report of 

 Mr. Consul Cave on the Trade and Commerce of Zanzibar for the year 

 1897 (Foreign Office, 1898, No. 2129 Annual Series) :— * The pro- 

 duction of Chillies has risen from 16,336 frasilas in 1896 to 17,698 

 frasilas in 1897, an increase of 77,670 lbs. The average price was 2 

 dol. 37c. per frasila as against 2 dol. 57c. per frasila during the previous 

 year.* A better price than this could doubtless be obtained for Zanzi- 

 bar produce if a little more care and attention were devoted to its culti- 

 vation and harvesting, but up to the present time it has been allowed 

 to grow almost wild on the coral outcrop which covers the eastern por- 

 tion of the island, and the slight personal discomfort which attends the 

 handling of pods prevents the native from exercising any care in its 

 picking and subsequent preparation for market. Attempts have lately 

 been made to obtain a better sample on ground which has been specially 

 cleared and prepared for the purpose, but the results are not yet to 

 band." 



A fr&siia 



— 35 lbs. avoir. 



