the Prince was at last obtained. One thing more,
however, still remained to be done before the
treaty could be carried into full effect, and that
was to eradicate any feeling o f discontent or
sullenness from his mind which might have been
created b y the exhibition o f force, and this, I
was happy to was effected b y the hospitable
reception he enjoyed in England in 1875.
There was a difference in the manner and tone
o f the Sultan o f 1874 and o f 1877, that I can
only attribute to the greater knowledge he had
gained o f the grandeur o f the power which he
had so nearly provoked. W e must lo o k upon
him now as a friendly and, I believe, sincere
ally, and as a man willing to do his utmost for
the suppression o f the slave-trade.
The philanthropist having at last obtained such
signal success with the Prince, it is time the
merchant should attempt something with him.
T h e Prince must be considered as an independent
sovereign. His territories include, besides
the Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia islands, nearly
1000 miles o f coast, and extend probably over
an area o f 20,000 square miles, with a population
o f half a million. T he products o f Zanzibar
have enriched many Europeans who traded
in them. Cloves, cinnamon, tortoise-shell, pepper,
copal gum, ivory, orchilla weed, india-rubber,
and hides have been exported for years; but
this catalogue does not indicate a tithe of'what
53
■might be produced b y the judicious investment
■of capital. Those intending to engage in com-
■mercial enterprises would do well to study
■works on Mauritius, Natal, and the Portuguese
■territories, if they wish to understand what these
nine, fertile lands are capable of. T he cocoa-nut
Ipalm flourishes at Zanzibar and on the mainland,
Ithe oil palm thrives luxuriantly in Pemba, and
[sugar-cane will grow everywhere. Caoutchouc
jremains undeveloped in the maritime belts o f
voodland, and the acacia forests, with their
vealth o f gums, are nearly untouched. Rice is
iown on the Rufiji banks, and yields abundantl
y ; cotton would thrive in any o f the rich river
ottoms; and then there are, besides, the grains,
fiillet, Indian corn, and many others, the cultivation
o f which, though only in a languid way,
|h e natives understand. The cattle, coffee, and
i°ats o f the interior await also the energetic
aan o f capital and the commercial genius.
■ First, however, the capitalist must find means
■ f carriage, otherwise he will never conquer
■*frican difficulties. Cutting roads through jungles,
B n d employing waggons, are mere temporary
■onveniences, requiring great outlay, patience,
f id constant reinforcement o f work and energies,
■dmost as fast as the land is cleared, it is co-
■ered again— so prolific is the so il— with tall
■ ^ grasses o f the thickness o f cane, and one
■¡ason is sufficient to undo the work o f months