ZANZIBAR.

the flag run up to the mast-head, two guns fired as

a salute, and the anchor went with a rattling plunge

into the blue waters, just as the glowing sun sank

behind the far-off purple hills of Africa.

A crowd of small boats soon gathered round the

steamer, waiting for passengers ; then a man-o'-war's

boat, pulled by sturdy blue-jackets, came bounding

across the harbour, and a smart- looking officer tripped

up the gangway, and demanded the London's mail-

bag. As we were watching the lively scene, a man

informed us in broken English that " de mission boat

was corned," and looking over the ship's side, I saw

one of the boats belonging to the Highland Lassie,

the little mission steamer, and in it two of our party who had preceded us to Zanzibar. After some delay we entered the boat and rowed across the harbour

to our house, which was situated in the suburb of

Gulioni, and had formerly been the residence of

Dr. Livingstone. It was quite dark when we left the

Putialla one of those glorious starlight nights such

as one only sees in the tropics

: the Southern Cross

blazed ever over our heads, and was reflected from

the smooth surface of the sea, with but slightly diminished brilliancy ; in the north the familiar

Pleiades,

Like a swarm of fire-flies tangled in a silver braid,

shone clear and distinct ; the wake of our boat

was marked with phosphorescent light, which also

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