Zanzibar
WHERE is it? And what about it? "We imagine we hear someone ask. Please tale the atlas, and turn to the map of Africa. By following along down its eastern coast, we find there a small territory bearing the name of Zanguebar, or Zinguebar. It comprises the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia, together with other small islands, and the coast opposite to them, from the island of Warsheikh, lat. 2° 30' N., to the village of Kionga, south of Cape Delgado, in lat. 10° 45' S. It received its name from when The Portugese sought its shores for trade and traffic with the Negroes inhabiting it. Although the name is not now used among the natives, it is still employed by Europeans to designate the entire territory ruled by the seyid, or sultan, of Zanzibar, as well as the island on which is the seat of his government.
The country is watered by several rivers, the principal of which is the Lufiji. It is very fertile, supplying all kinds of tropical productions, including sugar, cotton, coffee, cloves, nutmegs, cinnamon, and many other things, which find their way into the markets in every part of the world, and are found on almost every table. From its forests are furnished large quantities of valuable timber, caoutchoc, and copal. The elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, hippopotamus, and several species of the antelope, are found among its native wild animals. Fish abound in its streams. The domestic animals of our own country, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and fowls, have also been introduced.
Quite an extensive export and import business is carried on by the banians, or Hindoo traders, who collect the African produce for the European or American export houses, and distribute the imported goods to the natives. In 1872 the exports from the island were estimated at about $2,500,000, and the imports at nearly the same amount. The climate is hot, oppressive, and enervating, and is generally considered unhealthful.
In the accompanying picture is shown the city of Zanzibar and its harbor, situated on the west side of the island. It is built on a sandy peninsula, and is connected with the main-land by a stone bridge. Its streets are narrow and crooked, and their sanitary condition is sadly neglected, being cleaned only by the rains.
As seen in the engraving, there are some large public buildings, principal among which are the custom-house, the mosques, and the bazaars, the latter being well filled with all kinds of merchandise. The palace of the seyid, or sultan, and the houses of the foreign merchants, are near the sea; and this part of the city is much better kept than other parts.
The spacious harbor, which we see is a good one, is generally considered safe at all seasons; but like all others, it has not always escaped misfortune.
In 1872 a destructive cyclone visited it, and a large number of ships were destroyed.
This port was formerly a great slave market, where the infamous slave trade was carried on to a great extent, the natives of the interior being captured by those engaged in the business, and shipped to the shores of our own country. But as a business, this was finally abolished by a treaty with Great Britain in 1873, although it is still, to some extent, carried on without proper authority on the main-land. In 1784 Zanzibar was conquered by, and brought under the jurisdiction of Oman, a country of southeastern Arabia; but upon the death of the seyid, in 1856, various internal dissensions arose, when by treaty and the annual payment of 40,000 crowns, she again obtained her independence.
J. W. B.