In the afternoon Sheikh Sulieman, his secretary, came with a letter for the Governor, to be conveyed by Lieutenant Brebner, I.N., in the Nadir Shah, which is to sail to-morrow.  He offered money to the lieutenant, but this could not be heard of for a moment.

The translation of the letter is as follows, and is an answer to that which I brought.

    TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY.

    [After compliments.]

    “...  The end of my desire is to know ever that your
    Excellency’s health is good.  As for me—­your friend—­I am very
    well.

    “Your honoured letter borne by Dr. Livingstone duly reached me,
    and all that you said about him I understood.

    “I will show him respect, give him honour, and help him in all
    his affairs; and that I have already done this, I trust he will
    tell you.

    “I hope you will let me rest in your heart, and that you will
    send me many letters.

    “If you need anything I shall be glad, and will give it.

    “Your sincere friend,

    “MAJID BIN SAID.

    “Dated 2nd Shaul, 1282 (18th February, 1866).”

2nd March, 1866.—­A northern dhow came in with slaves; when this was reported to the Sultan he ordered it to be burned, and we saw this done from the window of the Consulate; but he has very little power over Northern Arabs.  He has shown a little vigour of late.  He wished to raise a revenue by a charge of 10 per cent. on all articles brought into town for sale, but this is clearly contrary to treaty, which provides that no monopoly shall be permitted, and no dues save that of 5 per cent. import duty.  The French Consul bullies him:  indeed the French system of dealing with the natives is well expressed by that word; no wonder they cannot gain influence among them:  the greatest power they exercise is by lending their flag to slaving dhows, so that it covers that nefarious traffic.

The stench arising from a mile and a half or two square miles of exposed sea beach, which is the general depository of the filth of the town, is quite horrible.  At night it is so gross or crass one might cut out a slice and manure a garden with it:  it might be called Stinkibar rather than Zanzibar.  No one can long enjoy good health here.

On visiting the slave-market I found about 300 slaves exposed for sale, the greater part of whom came from Lake Nyassa and the Shire River; I am so familiar with the peculiar faces and markings or tattooings, that I expect them to recognize me.  Indeed one woman said that she had heard of our passing up Lake Nyassa in a boat, but she did not see me:  others came from Chipeta, S.W. of the Lake.  All who have grown up seem ashamed at being hawked about for sale.  The teeth are examined, the cloth lifted up to examine the lower limbs, and a stick is thrown for the slave to bring, and thus exhibit his paces.  Some are dragged through the crowd by the hand, and the price called out incessantly:  most of the purchasers were Northern Arabs and Persians.  This is the period when the Sultan’s people may not carry slaves coastwise; but they simply cannot, for the wind is against them.  Many of the dhows leave for Madagascar, and thence come back to complete their cargoes.