408 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



beads, and wire. The kosi — south-west or rainy monsoon — is 

 the only period of work ; the kaskazi, or dry season, is a dead 

 time. The hardness of the ground is too much for the energies 

 of the people : moreover, " kaskazi copal " gives trouble in 

 washing on account of the sand adhering to its surface, and the 

 flakes are liable to break. As a rule, the apathetic Moslem and 

 the futile heathen will not work whilst a pound of grain remains 

 in their huts. The more civilised use a little jembe or hoe, an 

 implement about as efficient as the wooden spade with which an 

 English child makes dirt-pies. 



The people of the interior "crow" a hole about six inches in 

 diameter with a pointed stick, and scrape out the loosened earth 

 with the hand as far as the arm will reach. They desert the 

 digging before it is exhausted ; and although the labourers could 

 each, it is calculated, easily collect from ten to twelve lbs. per 

 diem, they prefer sleeping through the hours of heat, and content 

 themselves with as many ounces. Whenever upon the coast 

 there is a blood-feud — and these are uncommonly frequent — a 

 drought, a famine, or a pestilence, workmen strike work, and 

 cloth and beads are offered in vain. It is evident that the copal- 

 mine can never be regularly and efficiently worked as long as it 

 continues in the hands of such unworthy miners. The energy 

 of Europeans, men of capital and purpose, settled on the sea- 

 board with gangs of foreign workmen, would soon remedy 

 existing evils ; but they would require not only the special 

 permission, but also the protection of the local government. 

 And although the intensity of the competition principle amongst 

 the Arabs has not yet emulated the ferocious rivalry of civilisa- 

 tion, the new settlers must expect considerable opposition from 

 those in possession. Though the copal diggings are mostly 

 situated beyond the jurisdiction of Zanzibar, the tract labours 

 under all the disadvantages of a monopoly: the diwans, the 

 heavy merchants, and the petty traders of the coast derive from 

 it, it is supposed, profits varying from 80 to 100 per cent. Like 

 other African produce, though almost dirt-cheap, it becomes 

 dear by passing through many hands, and the frasilah, worth 

 from 1 to 3 dollars in the interior, acquires a value of from 8 to 

 9 dollars at Zanzibar. 



Zanzibar is the principal mart for perhaps the finest and 

 largest ivory in the world. It collects the produce of the lands 

 lying between the parallels of 2° N. lat. and 10° S. lat., and the 

 area extends from the coast to the regions lvins: westward of the 

 Tanganyika Lake. It is almost the only legitimate article of 

 traffic for which caravans now visit the interior. 



