80 



Notes on Zanguebar. [No. 1 1, new semes. 



further up and anchor opposite the palace of the Imam, at two 

 cables' length fromt he Flag Staff where the Arab flag is easily dis- 

 tinguished. Ships always ride at two anchors, moored north and 

 south. 



The spring tides run very strong, and during the north monsoon, 

 from December to April, there are heavy squalls from the west- 

 ward. The tide rises and falls 12 feet ; and as there are a num- 

 ber of flat and firm shoals, well adapted to facilitate repairing and 

 cleaning, small ships may turn this to advantage. 



The town of Zanguebar seen from the anchorage, has a very 

 fine appearance. The shore is lined with a row of buildings, if 

 not elegant, at least large and well kept; and since 1847 two 

 larger houses have been erected, which for the exquisite Arabian 

 taste displayed in ornamenting them, rather deserve the names of 

 palaces. At the first sight the new comer is' agreeably surprised, 

 but let him walk in the interior and his illusions will very soon be 

 dispelled. That screen of stately white houses with green or 

 lackered Venetians conceals a heap of ruins and huts half buried 

 in a labyrinth of narrow and crooked lanes, defiled with heaps of 

 all sorts of animal and vegetable matter in a state of decomposi- 

 tion. 



The Imam Seyed Said, when he is in town, lives in a long row 

 of buildings standing on the sea shore and having much of the 

 appearance of a dilapidated barrack or prison. Strong iron grat- 

 ings protect the windows, and behind the bars are immured the 

 numerous 4 Serayes' of the Sultan. Seyed Said is in town every 

 week when in good health from Thursday morning until Sunday 

 night : every Monday morning he repairs to his other residence 

 called M'tony (a Somauly word meaning 6 rivulet') situated some 

 six miles to the north of the town, in the centre of a beautiful 

 grove of mango, cocoanut, and orange trees, and irrigated by a 

 rivulet, the only one in the whole Isiand, which never runs dry 

 even in the hottest season. 



To M'tony ships send for their supply of fresh water, the Imam 

 having erected a small pier and an aqueduct for the accommodation 

 of boats. But though the water looks very pure, and has not any 

 particular taste, it is a fact that all men of war, French and English , 



