8 
EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
siege lasted for two hours, and presented a very pic¬ 
turesque and animated scene. Many recruits were 
clothed in long snow-white garments, and wore the red 
fez, and all were shouting, howling, or chattering at 
the top of their voices, and at the same moment. 
It was the first time I had met any Zanzibari porters, 
and I was much struck at seeing such a fine lot 
of men ; and though we afterwards found they were 
shocking cowards, they were excellent porters, pos¬ 
sessed of great powers of endurance, and capable of 
carrying their heavy loads (65 lbs.) for long distances 
without suffering much from fatigue. 
After purchasing three donkeys, and leaving our head 
man Martin to make all the arrangements for dividing 
up our baggage into loads which were not to exceed 
the regulation 65 lbs. each in weight, we walked out 
to the lawn-tennis ground, distant about one and a 
half miles from the town. It is approached by a road 
which is the continuation of the only street in Zanzibar 
wide enough for carriage traffic; indeed we found that 
with the exception of the Sultan’s “ turn-out,” and those 
of a few big traders and merchants, there were no 
vehicles in the town. The lawn-tennis grounds con¬ 
sist of three asphalt courts, charmingly situated and 
well shaded by magnificent mango trees, of great height, 
with beautiful dark green foliage. Lawn-tennis is 
almost the only recreation at Zanzibar, and is much 
affected by the members of the British consulate, by 
the officers of the different gun-boats and by some of 
the local merchants. 
