British EastAfrica 27 ] RACE AND LANGUAGE consequence, it may be presumed,of precautionary and remedial measures adopted by the authorities. But the prevalence of malaria and the risk of blackwater fever still render the climate unsuitable for the perma nent residence of Europeans.

A few cases of plague still occur sporadically. Tetanus, beri-beri, cerebro -spinal meningitis, small pox, enteric, and other infective diseases claim a few victims from year to year. Dysentery, venerealdiseases and rheumatism are common, and more widespread still is tuberculosis.

Lepers, to the number of over 300, are segregated in settlements, three on Pemba, one on Zanzibar. Hos pitals and dispensaries for natives are established in both islands, and there is a hospital for Europeans in Zanzibar.

(5 ) RACE AND LANGUAGE The remarkable mixture of nationalities and fusion of races in Zanzibar is due to the position the island held for centuries as the chief entrepot for trade with the East and the slave market of East Africa , also to its existing trade connections with the mainland, with Arabia , and with India.

The bulk of the population is described as Swahili, and appears to be descended on one side from the dominant Arab race , and on the other from negroes belonging to tribes of the mainland .

The Wahadimu, who occupy the eastern side of the island, are of a more purely African type, and probably represent the negro tribes found on the island and sub jugated or overawed by the Arab invaders. Akin to the Wahadimu are the Watumbatu, of Tumbatu Island, and the eastern side of Pemba is occupied by a cognate race, the Wapemba. The purely Arab population forms only about 5 per cent. of the whole , but is important as constituting the landed class who own most of the plantations. These Arabs came originally • from Oman, and retain the courtesy and dignity of their race [3918 ] D