The times., 1901-03-10
WOMEN OF ZANZIBAR.
Something About Their Dress and
ways of Living.


In referring TO the ways and customs
Of Zanzibar, r. z. Mansfield. ex-United
States Consul at that place. says that
one OF the most picturesque features was
the yeritablc Rebecca at the well.
At almost any hour Of the day crowds
Of half clad women. dressed in gaiIy col
ored costumes, can be seen at the wells
and hydrants, drawing water. which they
put into tin cans OF eartheu pots that viii
hold about six gallons each. When the
vessels are fled they are hOistcd upon the
heads Of tho carriers. who march along
under the burden as erect and graceful
as an athlete would move about uncncum-
bered. All the water supply for the lG5,-
COO Inhabitants OF Zanzibar is carried up
on the heads OF women.
Il have frequently seen a native woman
carrying as many as three water pots up
on her head, one on the top of the other,
and each standing at a different angle.
Each Of the vessels would hold several
gallons OF water and with them all flied,
she would march along, balancing them
so perfectly that not a drop would be
spilled. ] have also seen one Of those
water carriers balance a six gallon jar,
filed with water on her head. while she
was engaged in other tasks that required
the use Of both her hands, and at the
same time place her in a STOPPING posi-
ton The head was so posed as to main
tain the equilibrium Of the jar. This
.
heads has given to the women Of Zanzi-
bar a fine muscular development Of the
neck and shoulders, well as an erect
/ and graceful carriage
The Arab women. very few Of whom are
I seen on the streets. wear a kind Of pa
jana q robe Of cOlored materials. 4 veil
or sometimes a silk handkerchief folded
( and fastened around the brow al Indi-
! enne An embroidered waiscoat and the
| "barakoa. ." or gilt mask Of Muskat
| reaching nearly 70 the mouth, are com
I mon. also, while over all IS thrown q
/ large. square piece Of silk fabric which
( is draped gracefully about the form San
/ dals, or wooden clogs, held by a strap OF
/ q button between the toes, completes the
/ costume. The BiudOO women dress sim
/ liar TO the Arab lbs. except that they weaI
/ more gaudy fabrics and more ornaments
/ The costume Of the native women
| while less elaborate and expensive is
J quite as picturesque. 1t consists Of tW6
/ pieces of cotton cloth. usually Of speCia
/ bright COlors. These kangas, as they ar,
cal}cN. are made especially for the ZauZi
bar trade. and their like is found no place
| else in the world. one piece of cloth !,
! drawn tightly around the body, just be
! low the arms. and is deity and securely
! fastened without the aid Of pins or but
/ tons Native women never wear any
| thing on their feet Many Of them dec
( orate their faces with paint The WomeI
OF Zanzibar wear rings in their ears. Ihel
1 also wear nose rings and nose studs
! Civilized women wear gold ana sIlVel
{ bands on their WTlstS-SO also do the ma
/ tiyes of Africa They even 60 farther an,
/ wear ankltts. In fact native woman.
I social standing Is gaugcd by the amour
/ Of ieWclTy she wears, and many Of tn
+ gold and silver ornaments they wear ~
( handsome in design and artistic IN finish
The semi-barbarous African woman trie
20 make herself beautiful by the arrange
meut OF her kinky hair She VIII s2en'
hours with q little hand glass. arranginl
! her hair and aEmlrlnE herself.