Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

332 APPENDIX.
cargo ready ; the foreign mercliants, acting on
an agreement existing between them for the
purpose of excluding British merchants from
any participation in the trade, run up the price
of all produce in the market 40 per cent.,
sharing whatever loss there may be amongst
each other.
The ship, after waiting in vain for
a cargo, comes on demurrage, and is finally
despatched to London in ballast, entailing a
heavy loss on the charterers in Bombay, who
give up in consequence any intention of establishing
a trade with Zanzibar.
The expense of
establishing a monthly communication between
Zanzibar and the Seychelle Islands in correspondence
with the French mail steamers running
between Aden and La Reunion, and which call
at Port Victoria, Island of Mahe, would be
inconsiderable.
The distance between Zanzibar
and the Seychelle Islands is about 800 miles,
almost due east from Zanzibar.
Both monsoons
are a fair wind, but there are frequent long
calms, and the navigation on the Seychelles^
bank is tedious and dangerous for sailingvessels,
owing to the very strong currents. A
small steamer would consequently be preferable
to a sailing-vessel. I think that if a regular
communication were established with the Seychelles,
a considerable trade would soon arise
natives of India residing at Zanzibar would be