ZANZIBAR. 11 Leaving the negro quarter we enter the better-built part of the town. On turning a corner the sound of singing conies from the roof of a house, accompanied by a regular stamping sound somewhat resembling that made by a troop of soldiers on the march ; and on looking up we see a crowd of girls on the roof of a newly-built house treading and stamping the cement with which it is covered with wooden rammers, the blows keeping time to a chorus they are singing. This process is continued for three days, to consolidate the newly-made roofs and to prevent their cracking while drying. In this part of the town we pass a shop kept by a Groanese where all kind of European goods can be purchased, and where Crosse and Blackwell's pickles, Huntley and Palmer's biscuits, somebody else's tooth-paste, and patent medicines are advertised; but the genuineness of aught save the labels is rather doubtful. Bearing round to the left, a short distance brings us again to the bridge by which we entered the town, and we make our way home again through Ng'ambo to Grulioni.

The island of Zanzibar, which is growing in importance year by year as its trade increases and the attention of Europe is turned to the openingup and civilisation of those districts of Central Africa which are best reached from the East Coast, comprises an area of about 400,000 acres, and its population in 1871 was estimated at 150,000, the chief town being Zanzibar, containing 80,000