Zanzibar. 
25 
richly clothed with this valuable spice. By degrees 
your unfavourable impressions vanish, and you begin 
to think that this island is not altogether devoid of 
attraction. The island is very fertile, and seems 
equal to the production of almost all tropical vegeta- 
tion. Conspicuous among its larger trees are the 
baobab and the tamarind. The cocoa-nut palm 
grows in extensive plantations all over the island, and 
is of great value to the natives. The slim but grace- 
ful areca, the fan and other palms, are everywhere 
seen. The bombax (silk cotton), the mpingo (a kind 
of ebony), both of some value, are found. Of the fruits 
may be mentioned the mango, the orange, the lime, 
the pummalo, the pine-apple, jackfruit, guaver, various 
kinds of bananas, the cashew, etc. The chief cereals 
are rice, maize, cafifre-corn, and a small seed, called by 
the natives, mawele. Its vegetables are cassada, 
sweet potatoes, yams, etc.; melons and pumpkins in 
great variety flourish on all hands. The water-melon 
in such a climate is a great delicacy. Many kinds of 
beans and peas are grown. The castor plant grows 
wild, but sesamum is cultivated as an article of com- 
merce. The sugar plantations of Messrs. Fraser & 
Co., at Kokotoni, have thriven well. The clove planta- 
tions are some of the most extensive in the world. The 
calumba and arrowroot grow wild. Many European 
plants have been tried with success. 
The animal world of Zanzibar is not extensive. 
The leopard, civet, wild boar, pariah dog, etc., prowl 
through the jungles and woods. Antelopes and rabbits 
are to be found. Monkeys, squirrels, and cats abound. 
Lizards are seen creeping everywhere. Snakes are 
not numerous, nor are they of a particularly venomous 
