SIB JOHN KIBE AT ROME. 
37 
from a common Arabic origin, so the resemblance 
between the architecture in Southern Portugal and 
Spain with that of Zanzibar may be explained by re¬ 
calling the fact that the Iberian Peninsula and the 
Zangian coast both formed at one time extremities of 
Arab rule. While Zanzibar, however, resembles any 
other Eastern city, and differs little in outward aspect 
from Aleppo or Jaffa, yet the island to which it gives 
its name is thoroughly tropical African in its virgin 
state. The vegetation is rank and rich, and nearly 
every genus of the tropical African flora is represented 
among its plants. There are a few orchids, supposed 
to be peculiar, and possibly one or two ferns. Many 
trees have been introduced from India, and flourish in 
a way that exceeds their development in the mother- 
country. Magnificent mangoes are planted all over 
the island, and the fruit they yield is justly celebrated 
for its flavour of strawberries and cream. Of course 
pine-apples, oranges, limes, and cocoa-nuts abound, and 
fruit here may be had all the year round in constant 
variety and great quantity. Many remarkable and 
many very beautiful productions in African flora, though 
by no means peculiar to this island, may be observed 
and studied here with greater facility than on the main¬ 
land. Of such are the magnificent blue Glitorea, the 
extraordinary Kigelia Africana , the exquisitely lovely 
Hibiscus schizopetalus , the Crinum lilies, and the 
gorgeous-leaved Crotons. The zoology of Zanzibar is 
purely African in its character, as far as it is yet known. 
Being separated but a few miles from the mainland, its 
birds and insects differ little, if at all, from the parent 
fauna. It possesses, however, at least two species 
(in common with its sister isle of Pemba) of peculiar 
mammals, viz. the Galago Zanzibariensis (a kind of 
