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Notes on Zanguebar. [No. 11, nbw series. 



ride at anchor opposite M'tony with nothing but their lower masts, 

 denuded of rigging, not an awning to preserve the decks from the 

 burning sun, not a man to throw a few buckets of water daily on 

 the parched sides of the ships. I dare say such a thing as a bucket 

 is even unknown on board the Imam's ships of war. 



During a long period the Imam and his predecessors had their 

 ships built at Bombay, but for some cause unknown he turned his 

 eyes to Cochin, and for the last fifteen years he has favored the 

 latter place with his orders: the change has not been for the better, 

 for all the ships built for the Imam at Cochin have very great 

 defects and are dangerous at sea. In 1845 the Imam was desirous 

 of having a ship built at Zanguebar ; orders were immediately 

 sent to India, and a ship-builder with a complete set of artificers of 

 all professions for ship building, came at great cost to Zanguebar ; 

 and two or three hundred tens of well seasoned teak timber were 

 sent from the Malabar Coast. There was nothing at Zanguebar to 

 help on such an undertaking, so that numerous delays and dis- 

 appointments occurred, notwithstanding which however a ship of 

 150 feet was laid on the stocks, and the work went on with some 

 rapidity. When a piece of timber was wanted, it was immediate- 

 ly brought from the forests of the Island or of the African Coast, 

 and cut, worked and set without allowing time for the wood to 

 dry ; every thing was pushed on with no other consideration than 

 rapidity of execution, and the Imam was there daily urging the 

 workmen and builders to expedite its completion. 



In twelve months the frigate was ready and was launched, but 

 not an attempt will ever be made to equip her ; the Imam himself 

 could not but confess that his first trial was a very unfortunate 

 one. It is to be very much regretted, I think, that the Imam, 

 when he listened to the adviser who persuaded him to make a 

 trial of what could be done at Zanguebar in ship-building, only 

 accepted the idea, leaving aside all questions of detail. The gen- 

 tleman who originated the idea, and who was experienced in these 

 matters, did not fail to tell the Imam that the first step was to 

 have a provision of timber at least double of what was necessary for 

 building his frigate, as every piece of timber left would be useful 

 fpr other ships : the Imam was told that the trees should be felled 



