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 opening- up 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