The New York herald., 1874-12-26
STANLEY IN AFRICA.
All About Zanzibar, Once tn. Seat Of the Slave
Trade, Now Centre for Progress
The Palace OF Prince Bargh-
ash-bin-Sald.
Commercial Advantages and American util.
ization.
The Press Commissioner
Received at Court.
What the Prince Says OF the
Slave Trade.
His Negotiations with Sir Bartle Frere and His
Promises to the English.
PEN AND INK SKETCH OF THE POTENTATE
Christian Propagandisnn and It's
Resident Agencies.
A Stroll Throug thhe Streets and a Ride to the
Blooming Garden.
What the Prince Says OF the
Slave Trade.
His Negotiations with Sir Bartle Frere and His
Promises to the English.
PEN AND INK SKETCH OF THE PoTENTATE
Christian Propagandisrn and It's
Resident Agencies.
A Stroll Throug thhe Streets and Ride to the
Blooming Garden.

ZANZIBAR, EAST COAST OF AFRICA, Nov. Is, 1874.
For the last four or nve years the island and
town called Zanzibar have been very prominent
before the public. The rigorous measures pursued
BY the British government tor the suppression Of
The slave trade on this coast and the appeals of
Livingstone iL behalf OF the aboriginal African
have made Zanzibar well-known name. Pre-
vious to this time 1t was comparatively un-
known-as little known, indeed, as the polysya.
bic name by which It is described In the Perlplus
Of Arrlan. The mention OF Zangnebar, Zanjt bar
or, 40 1t Is now called, neutrality-suspicious.
very little INTEREST. Some few people there
were who remembered there was such q
name In very large characters on the map
OF the world, occupying q large strip on the
east side OF Africa, during their schoolboy days.
but what that name Indicated or comprehended
very lew knew or cared. They thought that It
might be very Wild land, peopled with canuibals
and such like, no doubt; for remember WELL
when first returned from Africa, great number
Of those kind who frequent clubs and big societies
often asked me, "Wnere the deuce is Zanzibar s'
There were people. however, who prospered and
grew rich on the ignorance OF their white brothers
who were so woiully deficient IN elementary
geographical knowledge These were the staid
old merchants OF London, New York, Salem and
Hamburg, who had agents living at Zanzibar,
VINO unobtrusively collected precious cargoes Of
African productions and shipped them nome to
their employers. who sold them again quietly and
unobtrusively to manufacturers at enormous
pronts. Great sums OF money were made for
many, many years by these old merchants, until
the slave trade question began to he agita ted
and Livingstone's fate TO be subject OF inquiry.
When Committee OF the House Of Commons
A~NA nt~A rtt<
information relating to the island and its
prospects. its productions and commerce, &C.,
and the NEW YORK HERALD despatched .
special commissioner in search of Livingstone
one result OF whose mission was the publication
or the name OF Zanzibar far and wide.
Captain Burton has also written two large
volumes, which bear the conspicuous name OF
Zanzibar" IN large gold letters, on their backs
but very few OF these volumes, / imagine. have
found their way among the popular classes. I
mean to try In this letter to convey description
OF the Island, its prince, and such subjects have
relation to them. as will suit any mind likely to
take an interest in reading It. De Horsey's
AFRICAN Pilot" describes Zanzibar as be-
Ing an island forly-six miles in length by
eiphteen miles in width at its great
est breadth, though its average breadth
IS not more than from nine to twelve miles, The
AFRICAN Pilot" and None's "Epitome" place the
Island IN south latitude deg 81 mtn - sec., and
In east longitude 80 deg 80 min. 81 Sec, but the
combined navigating talent on board Her Bri
tannic Majesty's surveying ship Nassau locates
Zanzibar IN south latitude deg. min. SO Sec,
and east longitude 80 deg IA min. 43 sec. Be-
tween the island and the mainland runs channel
from twenty to thirty miles in width, well studded
with coral islands, sand bars, sand banks anu
coral reefs.
FIRST APPEARANCES.
The nrst view the stranger obtains Of Zanzibar
Is Of low land covered with verdure. II he has
been informed much concerning the fevers which
trouble the white traveller in equatorial Africa, he
is very likely to be impressed in his mind that
the low land is very ggestive OF It, but nearer
view IS more pleasing and serves to dispe much OF
the vague fear or uneasness with which he ap
preached the dreaded region of ill.health and sor
row. The wind is gentle and steady which fills
the vessels sails; the temperature OF the air Is
moderate, perhaps at 10 deg. or IS deg. Fahren-
hett: the sky Is OF one cerulean tint, the
Is not troubled and scarcely rocks the ship, the
shore Is mass OF vivid green, the feathery fr0Dds
or palm trees, and the towering globes or
foliage OF the mangove relieve the monotony,
while the cleaning white houses OF the rich Arabs
neghfe en- the growing pleasure with the thought
that the '.lever may not oe so bad as people say
mel that separates Zanzibar from the Continent,
and hugging the shore oil the island, YOU Will many
times be grati,ed by most pleasant tropical scenes.
and by strange fragrance which Is borne from
the leafclad island--a fragrance which may re-
mind you OF "Ceylon's spicey isles" With .
good glass you will be able to make out
arst the cocoa palm and the deep dark
green glope OF foliage which the mango raises
above when the tree Is In It's prime, the graceful
hombax, and the tall tamartnd, while NUMBERS OF
tall gigantic trees OF some Kind loom above masses
OF outrageous shrubbery. B,ts OF cultivated land,
clusters OF hus solitary tembes, gardens and large
square, white houses, succeed each other quickly
until your attention attracted by the sight OF ship
ping In the distance. and. nearby growing larger
and larger every moment. the city OF Zanzibar,
the greatest commercial mart on the east coast
81 Africa. Arrived In the harbor you VIII 1nd the
ship anchors about 400 wards from the town. close
TO . lew moro European ships. ana perhaps
British man-oi-war or two, while number Of
queer-looking vessels. which you will style "na.
tive" lie hnddled between your own vesse, and
tho shore. These native vessels are OF various
tonnage and size, from the unWieldy Arab
trading dhow. with two masts leaning
inciegantly and sloveny toward the bows. while
tho towering after part reminds you OF the pic.
lures OF ships in the Spanish Armada. to the
lengthy, low and swt-lookng mpetc, which,
when seen going before the wind seems to be
skimming the sea ike huge white seaguil. Be-
yopd the native flcct Of trading Muscat dhows
kiiwa slavers, Pangani wood carriers and those
vessels whlcn carry passengers to the mainland
the town .! Zanzibar rises IRON the beach ia u
nearly crescent Iorm, whIte ana giaIinp uud IN.
symmetrical. The harrow, tall. whitewashed
house OF the leigniDg Prince Bargnasn bin
Said rises almost IN The centre OF the
nrst line ol buildings; close TO II on
the right, as you stand looking at the town from
shipboard, Is the saluting battery, which numbers
some thirty guDs Or tneIeabouts: and right be.