Zanzibar. 
33 
becomes the mere agent of these surroundings. Still 
his will is law, though he may insist upon it to his 
peril. 
The Koran is the statute book of the Arabs, and 
from that book all their ideas of jurisprudence are 
derived. But then the Koran, like the Bible, is liable 
to diversified interpretations, and these are often the 
dictates of ignorance, superstition, selfishness, bigotry, 
malice, party spirit, or a highly inflamed imagination. 
Yet, be it observed, that the interpretation^ whatever 
it may be, and not the Koran, is the law. The Sultan 
dare not oppose himself to the interpreters of the 
Koran ; hence he is often controlled by the whims and 
fancies of what may be designated his priesthood. 
Moreover, in spite of the much-boasted Koran, 
Muhammadans are one of the most superstitious 
peoples the world has ever known. They have often 
far greater faith in magicians and sorcerers than in 
the pretended infallible enunciations of the Koran. 
It is notorious that the Mganga (sorcerer) is about 
the greatest power in Africa. Sayid Said, Sayid 
Majid, and Sayid Barghash, after consulting with, and 
making every inquiry of their own Sheiks, Kathis 
and Sherifus, have oft-en had resort to the heathen 
Mganga, and have decided their course by his prog- 
nostications, in preference to the dictates of their 
own judgment, and the course indicated by all other 
advisers. Superstition is in as great force among 
these Easterns as ever it was in the days of Samuel 
and Daniel. Your witches of Endor, and your Baby- 
lonian soothsayers, magicians, astrologers, are the 
real powers, for they govern the king. Christianity 
is the only true antidote of superstition. 
3 
