Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

80 DnOW-OHASTNG.
undignified position in front of every one lie was
waving his sword in liis usual energetic mannerj
and in dangerous proximity to liis coxswain's
nose, exclaiming, " Come on, come on, my lads,
!
skirmisliers advance! "—" Fall in on tile beacli
&c. After tlie men were formed, we marclied
at the double up a little narrow lane or pathway
through the mangroves, and on emerging on
the other side came in front of the village,
which was at the head of a regular slope with
a kind of trench and stockade on the summit.
At the top of the slope a solitary Arab appeared,
waving his hand for us to stop, and asked through
the interpreter what we wanted as there were
no slaves in the barracoons. He was told we
had come to destroy those slave-prisons, and, if
resistance were offered, the town itself also.
He replied that if we only burnt the barracoons
they would not resist us, but if we burnt the
village they would fight. It was finally agreed
that he should direct us to the former, and
that having set fire to them we should return
to the boats, and not injure the village. This
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was done : no slaves were found there, as no