St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-05-27
rRon PRETORIA TO LONDON. v


FROn PRETORIA TO LONDON. v.
A Lady's Letter.-On Hoard the "Kais-
er.v-southeast African Ports.
We were some time waiting at Mozam-
bique for crowds OF natives to embark,
who were en- route for Zanzibar, and also
to take on our cargo Of eocoanuts and
other products, but though the heat on
shore was intense, even in the early
morning, the view OF the island from the
steamer was most picturesque. The
population is said to be about 10000
souls, including Portuguese officials,
Joanese, Banians and natives from the
mainland. including many tribes. Above
the high walls the palms wave, and
through the gateway we had peeps OF
white colonades, shrubs in blossom and
trees of rich foliage growing in the court
yard. Among these dwellings may have
been mansions Of wealthy grandees in
bygone days when the glory OF Portugal
was at its zenith. At sunset we steered
for the open sea, and the town, island,
and shores soon faded away, but can
never forget this charming spot, set like
gem in the picturesque bay, with the
palms, banyan trees, white and yellow
and pink houses, tinged with the setting
sun, and it's beauties will remain when
its odors and its sad past history are
forgotten.
We had a concert Saturday evening,
and then Sunday of pitching and toss
ing, in which, however, % Of the Prot
estant English speaking passengers gath
cred for quiet morning service in the
saloon, and the Roman Catholics held
their morning mass in the ladies' cabin.
On Monday the storm cleared and we
reached Zanzibar, truly magnificent
specimen of tropical island. The native
vegetation is abundant and rich. and the
cultivated parts of this island show CEN
turtles of growth. For the dozens OF
tall, graceful palms rising aloft above
Mozambique. are here hundreds, and the
approach to this spot is poetic and pic
turesqe beyond words. According to
our guide book this "world-famed island,
the most important headquarters of
Arab power in East Africa is under the
British Protectorate and is the largest
and the best populated island in front of
the East African coast" There is vast
amount of trade, both with Europe and
with Indian and Arabian ports, and is
the base of vast and ever increasing
traffic to Central Africa, and until
recently the greatest slave depot in the
world
Zanzibar is said to be so miles long
and about 20 miles wide at its widest
part. Low hills, rising about 500 feet,
vary with fertile plains aud valleys, the
soil being usually sandy and yielding
magnificent crops of fruits, cereals and
spice trees. The channel between the
! island and the mainland is about 16
miles wide, and Arab elbows and small
,, boats ply across in large numbers. Sew
. eral mail steamers, one bound for Bonn.
bay, sailing vessels, men.ofwar, and
hundreds Of small native crafts were in
the roadstead. There is some dispute
as to the origin Of the name, and one
, authority said when the Arabs first took
possession they called it Zanzibar,
meaning Paradise. while Others more
critical and scholarly, derive the name
|, from two words, Zanji Barr, which simply
: means Negroland. Be that as it may. il
r ought to be an earthly paradise. every
:. prospect pleases and only man is vile.'
The bed OF the island is OF coral and poly
D pus remains and in some parts there
are mounds of reddish ferruginous clay
q In 1872 a disastrous cyclone destroyed
four ffths of the cocus palms on thu
E island, but the magnificent soil and thu
u adaptation OF this tree to it is proved by
!; the thousands now growing in every
II direction, within close city walls, in mar
row streets, in private courts and IN thu
& outskirts, where they abound in mag
$ ni6cent profusion. Business is flourish
e ing in Zanzibar, and new ventures prom
q Use much more for the future. In 1906
s Holland imported over $50. 900, chiefly
q in cloves. The great articles OF expor
are ivory. copnl, rubber, grain, skins ant
cloves. The imports are beads, wire
Manchester cottons, guns, gunpowder
spirits and coal.
,, Zanzibar presents an imposing PIANO
q rama from the sea. The most promi
u nent buildings are the Sultan's palace,
,, lofty, four-storied structure, and tn
y British consulate. West of the palace
ls the Old Fort, and near the palace
e "stone ship" or series of water tanks
o carved to resemble ships hull. Tn
Is government is directed by commission
u headed by the agent general and is prst
- tically British, though all importan
10 documents are signed by the Sultan.
The doctor came out, the health paper
were passed, and in less time than ca
tell the tale, the ship was swarming wit
crafty eastern vendors of their ware: