chapters, which record the strange and eventful
s to ry o f our journeys.
The fleet o f six Arab vessels which were to
bear us away to the west across the Zanzibar Sea
were at last brought to anchor a few. yards
from the wharf o f the American Consulate. The
d ay o f farewell calls had passed, and ceremoniously
we had bidden adieu to the hospitable
and courteous Actin g British Consul, Captain
William F. Prideaux, and his accomplished wife, *
to friendly and amiable Dr. James Robb and
Mrs. Robb, to Dr. Riddle, and the German and
French Consuls. S e y y id Barghash bin Sayid received
my thanks for his courtesy, and his
never failing kindness, and my sincere wishes
for his lasting prosperity and happiness. Many
kind Arab and Hindi friends also received my
parting salaams. Grave Sheikh Hashid expressed
a hope that we should meet again on earth,
Captain Bukhet, the pilot, wished me a quick
and safe return from the dread lands o f the
heathen, and the princely Indian merchant, T a ry a
Topan, expressed his sincere hopes that I should
be prosperous in my undertaking, and come
back crowned with success.
T he young Englishmen, whose charming, simple
manners and manly bearing had won for them
*No lady was ever more universally respected at Zanzibar
than Mrs. Prideaux, and no death ever more sincerely regretted
by the European community than was hers.
Z an z ib a r .] SAYING GOOD-BYE. 8 5
a number o f true friends at Zanzibar, were not
without many hearty well-wishers, and received
cheerful farewells from numerous friends.
A t the end o f the Ramadan, the month o f
abstinence o f Mohammedans,; the Wangwana,
true to. their promise that they would be ready,
appeared with their bundles and mats, and proceeded
to take their places in the vessels waiting
for them. A s their friends had mustered in strong
force to take their finalparting and bestow last useful
hints and prudent advice, it was impossible to
distinguish among the miscellaneous crowd on the
beach those who were present, or to discover who
were absent. T he greater part o f my company
were in high spirits, and from this I inferred that
th e y had not forgotten to fortify themselves with
stimulants against the critical moment o f departure.
A s fast as each dhow was reported to be
filled, the N akhuda or Captain was directed to
anchor farther off shore to await the signal to
sail. B y 5 P. M. o f the 12th November, 224 men
had responded to their names, and five o f the
Arab vessels, laden with the p erso n n el, cattle,
and m atériel o f the expedition, were impatiently
waiting, with anchor heaved short, the word o f
command. One vessel still la y close ashore, to
convey myself, and Frederick Barker— in chargé
o f the personal servants— our baggage, and dogs.
Turning round to my constant and well-tried
friend, Mr. Augustus Sparhawk, I fervently clasped