ZANZIBAR. 25 folded over the whole, and a long rope of cocoanut fibre wound tightly round it at frequent intervals. Then one of the packers taking the first coil of the rope in his hands and steadying the bale with his feet, pulls hard at it while another man beats the bale rapidly with a heavy piece of wood ; the slackened rope is pulled tight, and the next coil treated in a similar manner. By this means the whole bale is powerfully compressed, and becomes as hard and rigid as a board, and will stand an immense amount of knocking about without becoming unfastened ; moreover, should a shower of rain come on at any time during the march, the wet does not penetrate to any depth. The bales are then sewn up in matting bags, and are then numbered and lettered, after which they are ready to be handed over to the porters who have to carry them.

We had at first intended to form one large caravan, and that the whole of our party should proceed together to the interior, but by the time that I had reached Zanzibar the height of the travelling season was come, and it was found to be impossible to collect at one time or place the number of porters we required. So after consideration it was decided to despatch a number of small caravans, as porters could be procured, under one or two of our number, and to meet at some convenient place in the interior. O'Neill was selected as the leader of the first caravan, and about July 10th he left for the