GENERAL MATHEWS. 
7 
and kindness, and, after requesting the custom-house 
officials to pass all our luggage free, led the way to a 
house which had been engaged for us, where all our 
stores, &c., had been placed to await our arrival. The 
entrance to our abode was under a guard of the 
Sultan’s soldiers, stationed there by General Mathews’ 
orders, and we went to pay our respects to this 
excellent officer after arranging for our individual 
quarters. 
The General gave us a hearty welcome at his snug 
little residence, furnished with great taste and full 
of objects of interest,—specimens of varied eastern 
arts, swords, spears, daggers and shields of native 
workmanship, and game trophies of all kinds. Origi¬ 
nally in the navy, General Mathews, after his retire¬ 
ment, enlisted in the service of the Sultan of Zanzibar 
who fully appreciates his great value. He now com¬ 
mands a disciplined army, consisting of 1400 regulars 
and about 3000 Arab auxiliaries. Tor the kind and 
invaluable assistance he gave us in organising our 
caravan I feel I can never be sufficiently grateful, and 
I gladly take this opportunity of thanking him again 
with Mr. Holmwood and other good friends, for their 
many proofs of hospitality and for the interest and 
pains they took in starting us fairly on our trip. 
The morning after our arrival we were awakened 
by a tremendous din outside our quarters, caused by 
about 150 of the men already engaged coming to he 
enrolled and to receive money for their day’s food, 
which was eight pice (about twopence) per man. The 
