June i, 1892.] 
THE TROPICAL AQRICULTURI8T. 
9+3 
I’ROM TITK METROPOLIS, 
S2nd April 1893. 
THAI>K AND TNDUSTRIKM OK KAST ArHIt'A. 
Two ConBular Reports rceently iseued contain 
matter o( oonsiderable interest to Cejlon readers — ; 
planters and merchants. Zanzibab, under new 
auspices and as a free port, probably may become 
the (Treat entrepot of trade for East Africa and this, 
is the end arrived at bv Mr. Portal, who reports, 
to Lord Salishurv for 1891, as follows 
The total declared value of imports from all parts 
of tho world during tho whole of last year amounts 
to l.lS.Tll.fitll ra„ or l,205.t>91f 10s, whereas the esti- 
mate made in November, baaed on the return of the 
previous ten months, gave 1,300,000/ as the probable 
figures for the whole year. No stronger argument 
could have been found in support of the contention 
that if Zanzibar is to maintain its pre-eminence it 
should, without loss of time, be declared a free port. 
That principle has now been accepted by Her Majes- 
ty’s Government, and the fox'mal declaration will bo 
made on February 1. 
To turn to the exports from Zanzibar. A com- 
plete tabular statement is now enclosed showing tho 
quantities and value of each class of goods exported, 
and the porta to which they were consigned. Tho 
ifross value of the exporta during the year amounts 
to 1,384,233/, or about SO.tXKl/ above the average 
shown by tho ten months reviewed on November 17. 
Tho relative values of the different classes of goods 
exported is about tho same as it was in Novomlier. 
Nothing need, therefore, ho added to the remarks 
made under this head at tliat time. 
Finally, although these returns and statistics still 
leave much to bo desired as regards both complete- 
ness and accuracy, yet it sliould be borne in mind 
that this is tho first yearly commercial statement 
that has ever been compiled in Zanzibar. The ini- 
tiatory difficulties in the way of establishing an 
orderly system at tlie custom-house were great: an 
efficient staff had first to lio formed and then trained 
to their work; exporters and ooiisignoes had to be 
requested and even pressed to nialco a declaration 
of tlie nature and value of their goods- a request 
which was for many months strongly opposed by 
several firms; and the dhow trade, hitherto quite 
unlicensed, iinwatched, and unrestricted, had to be 
brought under at least a partial supervision, though 
this, I may add, is as yet very far from sufficient. 
Tho subordinate official class and the trading 
public ill this country are undergoing a process of 
education which was begun only a few mouths ago ; 
until that odiioation is completed, statistics and re- 
turns may be an approximate estimate, but they cannot 
Ido a thoroughly correct index of tho trade and pros- 
perity of the Sultan’s dominions. 
The ppculisrity of the statistical tables given is 
that very much the same products (and quantities) 
are en'ered as Imports (from kfrioa) and Exports 
(flora Zinzlbar to Europe). It is only neeessary to 
notice some of tho ohiot exports. Of Cloves, the 
total weight in 1891 is given at 13,238,400 lb. in 
94,500 paokagcB of 1401b. each. London got 10,294 
paokages. Now York 22, Oil, Hamburg 10,669, 
Marseilles 8,910 and so on. The total value • is 
put down at 81,131.720. Tho next biggest ex- 
port is of ■■ C qra” to a va’uo of 8302,005 
for 10.572,275 Ib. over throe founhs of which went 
to Marseilles. 1 lO'.h to Bombay r.nd F.O packages or 
8,750 b. to Colombo. Next was “ Rubber” exported 
to a value of 8’2217C8, total weight 491,680 
lb., nolarly all tent to London. Then we have 
Hides, ” value 8185,903 ; Gum Copal, value 
8150 600 ; Tortniee- shells 889,600; Chillies (to 
London, New York and the Eur-^pean Continent) 
853,454 ; Gum Arabic 812,180; Cowries 89,708; 
Cooonuts 82.300 ; Tobacco 82,340; Rbinoceroa 
Horns 819 li'4 ; Shatk-fins 8.5,904 ; Wax 83,208; 
Orohella 812,730 ; besides eom Betel-nuts, Opium, 
Colombo-wood, Gum-myrrh and Tiger-skins ; be- 
sides, above all, Ivory Tusks exported last ye&i 
to a nominal value of 83,684.900. 
On tho trade of MozADsmquB, the figures are 
not Dearly so detailed. All we are told is that 
IDO exports cl seyen districts equAlled 
A/88,222, against of imports £709,190. But there 
are interesting remarks in Mr. Obntchill’s Report, 
more espeoially in reference to the Pearl Oyster 
rests south of the Zambesi road. I qnote as 
tollowB : — 
The number of deaths registered during the year 
has been 71,3 or about 200 to the 1,000 of tho whole 
population. Tho death are entered in the lists as 
having resulted from tho diseases predominating In 
most tropical and malarial districts, though the 
percentage of 200 to tho 1,000 is excessive tor oven 
nnheolthy regions. 
The fever prevalent amongst the Enropoans hero 
IS rarely in itself pernicious, although, with pro- 
longed attacks of fever, the system is so proMratod 
that some other disease usually sets in and causes 
death. Tlioro are many reasons given tor the great 
unhcalthineas of the climate. The principal ones are; 
bad and inauffioient food ; houses inadequate to resist 
the sudden atmospheric changes ; the total absence 
or any social enjoyment or ontertainmont ; and the 
inipOHsiblhty, On account of the sandy natlire of the 
soil, of taking any legitimate exorcise. One depends 
mainly upon tinned provisions for food, and tinned 
food is not invigorating. 
The majority of houses are built of corrogated 
iron and wood, and although such houses ciui“be 
built cheaply and quickly they are too hot in stun- 
mor and too cold in winter, and tend to increase 
unnaturally the climatic pressures one has to bear. 
There have been (iOO emigrants sent from Portiigolto 
Louren(?o Marques this year. A few of these emigrants 
obtain employ n ent such as has been formerly given 
to the natives, a large number die, and the rematoder 
are withont work or the desire tet obtain any; and 
are consequently a sonree of expense to the 
authorities. 
The rates of wages in this district are as fol- 
lows 
Amonnt. 
£ B. d. £ s. d. 
Description 
Native and emigrant 
labcurera 
Native masons 
Indian do 
f’hinese Carpenters 
European do 
led an paititers aod 
oolourinon 
Native ^ervBQtii 
cooha 
Per day 
do 
do 
do 
do 
0 1 6 
0 6 0 
0 U 0 
0 15 0 
1 0 0 
0 10 
0 
0 4 
0 12 
1 8 
1 10 
1 10 
1 5 
6 0 
10 0 
do 
P*r month 1 
„ COOKS do 9 10 0 10 0 0 
There are no industries in this dUtrict. The natives 
in the interior plant small patohos of ground around 
thoir kraals and produee small qua^itities of oeieala 
for their own consumption. The natives who 
live near tho towns on the ooaet, although 
having ground that would produce heavy crops 
find It more profitable to work for Europeans, 
and buy from them such food as they r^uire 
With the high rates of wages obtained they 
are both able to live better in this -wav than they 
could by cultivating the ground, and to have aauniluB 
with which to drink or to buy euoh luxuries as they 
may desire. ^ 
Among the Europeans I each energy as baa been ex- 
pended has been rather in the direction of expedi 
tionato the interior, and in dieouBsiqg political duea- 
tions of booudanes, Ac., than in paying attention to 
the nature of the soil, its cnitivation, or its poesi- 
bill ties. ^ 
There exisU on the east coast, a«ath of the 
Zanibesi River, reefs of pearl oysters, of which- the 
niost important is situated to tho south of Chiioane 
in the Bazoruto ArohipeWo. Tho greater portiw of 
the reef is within enclosed waters, and, as it has 
„ever been regularly worked, the poarls v^-hich ohn?! 
^e found there must be considerable dimensions. S 
"’id'hf *3, locality of the pearl reefs occasionallv 
^nd black pearls of great beauty, but their valus 
