The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-18
FRESH FROM ZANZIBAR
UNITED STATES ONsUL ROBERT f.
MANSFIELD IN THE CITY.
He Gives an Interesting Description
of the Land That Originated
the Typical Tune"

Nj. -ndHSlGlQ VIII ItIndlu utIt II biC
next few weeks and will be connected with
the speakers bureau of the Republican
state committee. He returned to this coun-
try from Zanzibar by way of Paris, spend
ing a month in that city visiting the ex-
position. He say the Paris exposition is a
magnificent show. but that Americans who
visit il are likely to be disappointed, as
it does not compare in immensely with the
worlds fair in Chicago in 1893, and as a
consequence. though some of the details
are much more artistic than at Chicago,
ii cannot be said there is anything new to
be seen. In speaking of Zanzibar TO a
Journal reporter last night Mrs. Mansfield
said:
Zanzibar Is one of the most beautiful
of the many islands along the east coast of
Africa. 1t lies about five degrees south of
the equator and is separated from the main
land by a channel twenty miles in width.
The island is about forty miles long by
thirty miles wide. 1t is very fertile and
productive, and is the chief supply station
and point of distribution for all East At
RIGA. 1t is covered with a dense growth
of tropical trees and vegetation. Much of
the land is under cultivation and the island
presents the appearance of a vast tropical
garden.
"All the fruits common to a tropical eli
mate. such as oranges lemons. bananas,
mangoes. guavas. ETC., develop and ripen
perfectly on the island, and there is always
an abundance of excellent fruit to be had
in the market.
THE island is of coral formation and the
surface. which is low along the coast.
rises TO an elevation of several hundred
feet toward the center, giving it the APP
pearance Of a great green mound fringed
with palms and plantain trees, resting
indolently on the bosom of the Indian
ocean:
UNDER BRITISH PROTECTION.
1.-The Sultanate, which is under British
protection, is a monarchical form of gov
eminent. 1t comprises the islands of Zan-
zibar and Pemba and a strip of coast
country extending ten miles into the in
terror for a distance of some two hundred
miles along the mainland. 1t is governed
by Seyyid Hamoud bin Mohamed. who is
a absolute ruler. The local government
| possesses many excellent features. There
is no taxation of real estate or personal
property. The people enjoy many liberties,
and there is very little crime on the island.
The Sultan is an Arab. the Arabs be-
ing the ruling race and the property own
ers. He is about fifty years old and is a
fin~e-looking man. He came to the throne
in 1896 by the aid of the British govern
ment. In 1896 Mohamed bin Ali died, and
| his son, who claimed to be in the line of
succession, assembled the throne and as
sumed authority. The present Sultan, who
is a brother of the late Sultan. also aspired
to the r%ulership of the island. The British
Il Ar~c anf h rrn1aD rrln M
the young man who had taken possession
was notified to vacate the palace. He re-
fused, however, to accept the ultimatum
l given him by the British government, and a
| warship which was in the harbor lombard
ed the castle, quickly reducing 1t to a ruin.
The ambitious young prince made his es-
cape, going to the German consulate,
granted him, and he was sent TO German
East Africa, where he still remains. Since
that time there has been no political trou-
BILE in the island, and the reign of Hamoud
bin Mohamed has been a very successful
one.
There are no schools, except a few mis-
| sions, in the island, and very few natives
have any education. Mohammedanism is
the religion of the country.
THE POPULATION.
1.-The island of Zanzibar has a popuIa-
ton of 225.0Oo, $4,000 Of which is in the
city of Zanzibar. The population consists
of about 100 whites. including all nation.
alities, 10000 Arabs. 10000 Hindoos
the remainder being natives of the Swahil
tribe. The local trade is controlled by the
Indians. Most Of the land I'M property
is owned by the Arabs.
1.-The natives are a good-natured lot Of
people and are apparently happy and con.
tented. Their wants are few and nature
is most generous in providing for them
Their chief articles of food-rice, mohogc
and f~ruit-grow in abundance everywhere
in the island. The climate is salubrious
and they require little clothing. The eli,
mate is also enervating and conducive tc
Incidence and there is little ambition man.
ifest among the people.
1.-The houses occupied by the Europeans
and the Arabs In the city are large square
strustures, three rs stories high; built o.
They are all uniform in style Of architec.
ture and present a very plain appearance
The streets are narrow, winding lanes
very few of them being sufficiently wide
to admit an ordinary vehicle. The native
part of town consists of mud huts thatchet
with palm leaves.
1.-The city of Zanzibar. which is one of tn,
oldest on the east coast of Africa, was
established by the Portuguese in 1894
Later the Portuguese were driven out by
the Arabs, who established large shipping
and commercial interests. But Zanzibar
attained greatest prominence at one tim,
as the great slave market of the world
II was notorious as a slave market fol
many years, and the English High Church
now points with pride to the fact that Il
has built a fine church upon the site o.
the old slave market in Zanzibar. There II
also a Catholic Cathedral in the city, blu
the chief places of worship are the numer
Gus Mohammedan mosques, which are q
feature Of the city. One of the most inter
esting characters in Zanzibar is lib bu lib
who was at one time a great African trav
eler and explorer.
THE TYPICAL TUNE.
lone thing which has contributed much
TO the advertising and notoriety of Zanzi
bar is the take-off in De Wolf Hopper.
Ell Captain in the Typical Tune of Ian
zibar,' which is intended to represent tn,
musical features of the faraway islands
Another story which has been given som,
prominence concerning Zanzibar was orig
mated by one Captain Riley, who claim,
that he at one time represented the United
States government as consul TO Zanzibar
The story is TO the effect that Captain
Riley, who is a patriotic American citizen
was denied the privilege of floating tn,
American flag over the consulate by tn
Queen of Zanzibar, n that when he de
clared his intention to keep the stars ant
stripes waving over his official residenc,
that dusky Queen headed a delegation o
her retainers and went 10 the consulate
for the purpose of lowering the flag. Thi
attempt to humiliate the representative o
the greatest government on earth was re
sented by the captain, who claims TO hav'
fred a load o. birdshot from a double
barrel shotgun, which he took from tn,