Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

CRUISE OF THE " OASTOR's " BOATS. 65
tongue, and therefore of course ought to be
understood, we thus cross-questioned these
anxious looking nigger-drivers, who made themselves
equally understood to us in their Arabic
as we probably did to them in our mutilated
English. "How you do?" (shaking hands
with every one who chose). ""Where you
come?" "Where you go?" when as if they
understood what they were asked, or the signs
accompanying the question, they moved their
hands first to the south, then to the north, and
spoke the words " Mozambique " with the first,
and " Zanzibar " with the
second wave of the
hand. " What dem nigger der?" They point
to the sails, and make a motion with their hand
like that of hoisting it, "Oh, dem crew
men." "Wlio dese?" Another wave of the
hand from south to north, and a good deal of
jargon in which the words "Mozambique" and
" Zanzibar " again occur. " Oh !
suppose dem
passengers." " Where am papers ? " This we
make them understand by writing with the forefinger
of the right hand on the palm of the
left. The papers are produced ; they might have
p