afterwards returned my visit, and brought me a goat— all he
had to offer— a gift which I returned with interest.
The next morning, March 13, I went round the town with
Amadi bin Sultan, and remarked that the Patta people cultivate
tobacco in a small w a y : there were a few fields of it
growing. The plant has small leaves and pink blossom.
Heaps bf coral-lime were placed here and there ready for
export to Zanzibar. I observed that the creek runs up
beyond the town in a south-west by west direction.
Returning to Siyu the same day, travelling by the way I
had come, I put up this time at the very comfortable house
of Omari bin Issa, who gave me a most sumptuous repast. I
renewed my conversation with him and several of the elders
on the subject of coco-nut, copra, and otherr matters, and
hope that my words have borne good fruit, for there can be
no doubt that a large export trade in the bye-products of the
coco-nut palm can very easily be developed on Patta Island,
whilst the increased value of the trees would go a great way
to check the present practice of excessive tapping for toddy,
which tends greatly to weaken and kill the trees.
In the afternoon at 3 p.m. I left for Faza, this time following
a more direct route, across the creek, through which
I was carried by my - porters, as it was high tide. On the
other side I continued in a N.N.E. direction, and after half-
an-hour’s march passed by Koyo. the Siyu harbour, the dhows
being distinctly seen from the path.
The sea continued closely on my left less than a quartet of
a mile away. The country was well cultivated, mostly with
ground produce such as metamah and beans, the land being
quite open, and the fields extending far away on my right.
The soil was of a light brown to reddish-coloured loam.
A t 4 p.m. I crossed a creek thickly fringed .with mangroves,
with a low ridge beyond running north-west and southeast,
which the path eventually skirted, the top of the ridge
and the whole' country on my left being fairly well cultivated.
Where not cleared, the ground is covered with thick thorny
scrub and fan palms. Much the same description of country
continued till I got close to the Faza coco-nut cultivation.
When passing a hole about 5 feet deep I examined the soil