Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

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THE CEUISE OF THE " PANTALOON." 97
and the voices would be hushed to the more
agreeable strains of a very good string band
but no sooner was the last note of music struck
than chattering commenced, at first like distant
thunder, but immediately increasing to a mighty
roar ; while the clatter of knives and forks
added considerably to the effect, till you had to
scream to be heard by those sitting next you.
There were men and women from Hong-kong,
from Shanghai, from Australia, Calcutta, and
Bombay ;
there were Chinese, Japanese, Turks,
and Parsees, and representatives of almost
every nation, European, Asiatic, African, and
American. There were invalid sailors and
invalid soldiers ; there were fresh-looking
Englishmen going abroad, and sallow-faced
ones coming home ; some there were who had
never been home for half their lifetime, and
some going out probably never to return ; some
returning with more than they bargained for
when they left home, in the way of small wives
and large famihes, others with nothing but
broken constitutions and premature old age;
some there were who appeared never to have