The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-03
In TROPICAL ZANZIBAR
GIeries of a Sultan's Land in East
ern South Africa.
Prolific i'm It's Productions of lcEe-
tables of Every Description-Nn-
tive Ceremonies mt Funerals and
Marringcs-Traits of Character.

A recent article written by fcrme
American Consul Mansfield. who for
time had charge of this Government in
terests IN the Island of Zanzibar, pays ,
strong tribute to- the glory and beauties
OF that South african suitanate. which
though a country often laden, particu-
larry after rains, with fever-brecding
miasma. IL a land of prolific vegetation
and which one would magiue. after
person became acclimated. would fur
nish a very acceptable residing place. Mr
Mansfield in his description of the coun-
try says its sand beached coast is low and
along thcshore is tangle Of coarse grass
and creepers. enlivened and decorated
with brilliant wild flowers. In the interior
and toward the centre. the surface of the
island rises to an elevation of several
hundred feet. which gives it the appear
ance OF a great cone or dome of verdur,
resting upon the sea. The hills are
broken into curved swells and ravines
rain-cut and bush-grown. Sometimes
these cuts extend to great depths in the
coral rock and soil, amounting almost 20
cayerns. Approaching these heights, and
along their base, in a soil Of clay and
coarse gravel, is the home of the copai,
which al one time formed one of the chief
export products of Zanzibar.
The rich vegetable substance, the eX-
cessive humidity and heat, produces album
dainty almost every vegetable product
cereal and fruit known.
Along the streams, lowlands, ana
sWamTs there is n black soil of such
prodigious growth that vegetation, in
GLIDING Wild sugar cane. grows fat and
rank.
There are q number of towns and vii
lagos in the island, and through the
shambas, or plantations, are clusters of
thatch-roofed mud huts, the homes of the
natives. There are two splendid roads
running the full length of the island. one
FROM north to south and the other from
east to west They were built and are
maintained by the Sultans Government
Other lines of communication consist of
foetpaths, running from one settlement or
shsmba to another. These trails are so
winding and irregular, forming such a
labyrinth of intricate byways that 1t is
practically impossible for one not famil-
lar with the country to find his way any
distance through the island. The natives
living in the shambas are all very peace
able, and because of long years of sla-
very they stand in awe of a white man.
and there is no danger to one travelling
alone in the country. especially in the day
time.
The natives of Zanzibar, like most
semi-civilized people, are emotional and
excitable On the occasion of a death in
Zanzibar, a great number of natives i'm
mediately collect at the scene and in
dulSe in great lamentations and demon
STATIONS of grief. They shrek and wall
beat their chests and act as if they had
been plunged into deepest despair. While
engaged in these demonstrations of grief
the.- indulge in comment on the deceased.
They will say, Here is a man Cor wo-
man, as the case may be- who was yes
ter,iay one of US, now dead-cold and stiff
We can never talk or laugh with him
again" If a man, some woman-will say:
''Dost thou remember making love to me
at such time? Much good thy love will
do me now, that thou are meat for ugly
worms" Sometimes man viii gibe the !
corpse with such rema rks as once 1 |
asked thee for aims and thou didst refuse
These native demonstrations remind one |
of Hamlet $ soliloquY on death. in which |
he says: Where be your gibes now? Your |
GambOlS, your Songs2'
After a brief demonstration over the !
corpse the body is wrapped in a cloth and |
buried az shutdown Of the day Of the |
'AFaltl Le ttfpS- lS bpTHt 10 the GENE
terry on d litter. carried upon the heads |
of four men. The procession is followed |
by the relatives and friends of the dead |
AfteT the burial, all those in attendance
20 to the sea and battle. This is done 10
remove the unClean spirits that are sup
posed to hover about the dead. Later in |
the evening the friends OF the dead gath
cr at the home OF the bereaved family to
indulge in Teasing and to drive away
their sorrow on these occasions they
sing and beat tom-toms and make night |
hideous with noise.
Marriage ceremonies. says Mr.. Mans
Held. like funerals. are characterized by
great demonstration. The wedding cere-