u
The town of Lamoo is situated about twenty-three
miles from Mkonumbi, on an island bearing the same
name. It is inhabited by a people very different from
the Arabs of Zanzibar. While it is true there are some
pure-blooded Arabs among them, yet most of the people
are the product of union between Arabs and natives of
the islands of Lamoo, Manda, Patta, and Siu. It is uncertain
whence the natives of these islands originally
came. They are lighter in colour than the inhabitants
of the coast, more intelligent, and, in a degree, their life
is more civilized. In the native manufactures they excel;
and the caps and sandals of better manufacture
worn in Zanzibar all come from these islands. They
are a light-hearted and treacherous race. They carry
to a much higher point than the natives of any other
portion of the coast of East Africa ideas of organized
amusement. As far as it went, they had a keen idea of
sport. On certain days of the year they had boat races,
foot races, and matches of all sorts, in which both sexes
took part. It is needless to add that their morals were
of the lowest possible order.
Thè governor of the town of Lamoo was a cousin
of the Sultan of Zanzibar, by name Abdullah Ben
Hamed. The British East Africa Company had
leased the trading rights of the coast from the Sultan of
Zanzibar. A t the town of Lamoo this company was
represented by two officials, who, through the influence
of the Arab governor, and by his assistance, managed to
preserve some sort of discipline and order there. Beside
these two representatives of the British East
Africa Company, two other Europeans resided there,
Germans, named Teide and Denhardt, engaged in trade