expected. I could see the hill of the Magarini shambas
in the distance— about eighteen miles’ journey, though not
more than ten miles as the crow flies. In the evening Ali bin
Salim,Liwali of Mombrui, son of the Liwali of Mombasa, came
to pay me a visit, and we had a pleasant chat together. After
morning tea on the 16th,. I went on board the Henry Wright
to superintend the landing of my baggage. The Arab captain
not understanding English, I had to go down into the hold
several times to secure my belongings, and very hot work I
DISTRICT OFFICER'S HOUSE, MELINDI.
found it ! In- the afternoon Said bin Hamid, the Liwali 'of
Melindi, a fine handsome Swahili, came to call. He and the
Liwali of Mombrui were trustees of the Melindi shambas,
which were the confiscated property o f a deposed rebel (Suli-
man bin Abdulla), and being heavily mortgaged, the estate was
administered by the Company at the request of the Sultan of
Zanzibar.
Next day (July 17) the Arab and Swahili New Year, I
called on the Liwali, Said bin Hamid, who gave us sweetmeats
and coffee in tiny cups, and showed us the handsome
Iword presented to him by the Directors of the Company for
his services on their taking over the country from the Sultan
of Zanzibar. Later on we called on the Liwali of Mombrui,
who similarly entertained us. In the afternoon I went to see
the Liwali of Melindi’s garden, and was much pleased with
the appearance of the fine coco-nut trees/which were planted
about 24 feet apart. The soil was black and free, .and
struck me as suitable for cotton. A crop of maize had
been just reaped, and the land was then under sim-sim
SAID BIN" HAMID, L IW AL I OF MELINDI.
|Sesame or Gingelly); - - The rich soil appeared to bear readily
the rapid succession of crops, beginning with Guinea corn or
metamah, maize coming next and being followed by sim-sim,
often put down before the last crop was out of the ground.
■The Liwali, who professed great willingness to assist me by
■very» means in his power, brought two samples of tobacco for
my inspection. The first was the local variety grown near
Sabaki river, with very coarse dark leaves ; this tobacco is
Wry strong, and is only used for snuffing and-chewing. The