SIB JOHN KIBK AT HOME. 
25 
a carved stone tracery at the back to let in air. These 
give an effect of lightness to the somewhat massive 
walls, and the little points of light gleaming through 
the windows of cut stone act as a point de mire in each 
recess. There are no pictures on the walls ; nothing 
but coruscations of Oriental pottery, all of it got from 
Zanzibar and the neighbouring coast. The amount of 
beautiful Persian, Moorish, and even Chinese pottery 
and porcelain to be found in Zanzibar is really sur¬ 
prising. Much of it is hoarded up by old Arab families, 
who have kept it for generations in their households, 
and it only sees the light in occasional bankruptcies 
and auction sales. On many parts of this Zangian 
coast pottery is fastened into the walls of mosques or 
plastered on to tombs, whence—I say it with regret— 
Europeans do not hesitate to ct loot 55 it, under the 
pretext that if they do not the degenerate descendants 
of the Oriental settlers will. At places like Lamu the 
most tasteful Persian porcelain, rich in colour and very 
old, was to be easily picked up but a short while ago, 
though the sudden rush of greedy travellers has dimin¬ 
ished the supply. Mnch of this Persian pottery—great 
bowls of gorgeous tints, blue and gold plates, vases 
and cups—decorate the walls of the Consulate, and 
lend colour and brightness to its apartments. 
The windows of two sides of the house look forth on 
the sea, and command the entire harbour. All the 
shipping becomes a study of ever-changing colour and 
form. The great black hulks of the steamers, sur¬ 
mounted by their tall masts and funnels ; the snow- 
sails of the daus coming into port; the “ mtepe,” or 
native barque, with a huge sail made of matting; the 
dismantled daus, with their brown rigging and masts 
and folded sails, lying at anchor in the blue still water : 
