84 Notes on Zanguebar. [No. 1 1, new series. 



best construction. One of these frigates*- bound to London,' on 

 her first voyage lost her rudder on the fifth day after leaving Zan- 

 guebar. When sailing with a fine smart breeze under starboard 

 studding sails, the rudder went off very quietly, all the hinges 

 having given way without noise or shock ; and in consequence of 

 that loss, the three masts went overboard five or six hours after- 

 wards. She was with great difficulty brought to Simon's Bay with 

 jury-masts and rudder ; and on being refitted at Table Bay sailed 

 for England : but on her voyage she foundered at sea and was no 

 more heard of. Another of his shipsf sent to London arrived at 

 Neio York after five months of terrible toil ; this was not owing to 

 deficiency in navigation, as the ship had two English sailing mas- 

 ters of well known ability, but was wholly attributable to the bad 

 sailing qualities of the ship. The ships constructed at Cochin are 

 of teak, iron fastened, with teak masts and coir rigging, not an 

 inch of hemp rope being used either for running or standing rig- 

 ging. Added to that as the hulk is always constructed on some 

 bad plan, it is not to be wondered at if they are such dangerous 

 tubs. 



When the Imam intends to have a ship built, he always com- 

 missions one of his favorite Nakoodahs to superintend the work : 

 to that Nakoodah the money is entrusted, and he makes his own 

 bargain with the builder, — the only order given by the Imam to 

 the Nakoodah being to have a ship of so many feet of keel put 

 on the stocks. He then receives a sufficient credit on the Imam's 

 Agents at Bombay, and he is allowed an absolute liberty of manage- 

 ment; the consequence of which is that the Nakoodah gives the 

 preference to the most unscrupulous builder, and a commission of 

 this sort generally ends in the Nakoodah making a little fortune, 

 " out of the shavings" to use a favorite phrase of the Arabs of Zan- 

 guebar. 



The Imam knows all this, and does not mind ; he pays like a 

 gentleman and without a grumble. The Nakoodah comes back to 



* Named & Artemise in compliment to Admiral Laplace, who had 

 visited Zanguebar in a French frigate of that name, and earned the 

 friendship of his Highness. 



+ Named the Caroline. 



t 



