Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

248 DHOW-CHASING.
preter since his master's deatli, I went to the
house, but was at first refused admittance by
the male relations, or authorities, until I assured
them that unless I saw Mrs. Jumah before I
left it would be very difficult to make arrangements
about her receiving the pay, &c. ; and at
last, after much ado about so unheard of a
proceeding as a Christian obtaining an interview
with a mourning Mahometan widow, the
objections were overcome, and I was ushered
up the stone steps, or stairs, to her room. On
entering it, I saw sitting on a couch on the
right hand, six or seven women, one of whom,
from her age, appeared probably to be the
mother of Jumah, the
others were some of his
wives. As I entered, the whole of them lifted
up their hands, and with upturned eyes began a
most plaintive wail, which they continued for
some time, poor Jumah's name being often
repeated. This sorrowful wail was taken up by
an invisible person within curtains drawn round
a bed on the left-hand side of the room. This
was Mrs. Jumah superior, and I was offered a
chair close to these curtains at the head of the