314 
THE KILIMA-NJABO EXPEDITION. 
Oriental C£ divan/ 5 a low-pitched, thatched building, in 
the interior of which a low wooden seat bordered 
three sides of the oblong room, the fourth side being 
a half-open verandah. Many Swahili and Arab 
traders and courtiers were seated there, squatting on 
their haunches, and imperturbably smoking. A few 
lazy greetings were muttered, but I thought their tone 
rather insolent, and very coldly replied. At the end 
of the bench, near the verandah, was a gorgeous silk 
cushion and a Persian carpet. I was about to seat 
myself thereon, imagining it was the guest’s place, 
when the Sultan, Semboja, suddenly entered and 
shouldered me out, taking me by the arm and forcing 
me down beside him. I was rather hurt at this 
cavalier proceeding, but soon recovered my good 
humour when I found no offence was intended. 
Semboja was a little Arab-like, wizen old man, 
with a very quizzical expression. Two bright eyes 
sparkled amid his crow’s feet and wrinkles. He had 
villainous teeth, stumpy, and red with much chewing 
of betel-nut. His costume was quite Arab in style, 
and in perfect taste. His well-trimmed, elegant feet 
were shod in inlaid sandals. On a finger of his right 
hand was a fine signet ring, which he turned round 
and round as he spoke. The most elegant Swahili 
came from his lips, intermingled with Arab terms and 
phrases, much as, some years ago, English people had 
the questionable taste to interlard their conversation 
with scraps of French. Semboja was evidently quite 
a cultured man—a more civilized Mandara. At the 
time I visited him he was much concerned about 
German aggression, rumours of which had just begun 
to get abroad. He therefore repeatedly announced 
himself a faithful vassal of Sayyid Barghash. When 
