Coffee was served in cups supported by golden finjans, also some cocoa-nut milk, and rich sweet sherbet.

The conversation began with the question addressed to the Consul.

“Are you well?”

Consul.—­” Yes, thank you.  How is His Highness?”

Highness.—­“Quite well!”

Highness to me.—­“Are you well?”

Answer.—­“Quite well, thanks!”

The Consul now introduces business; and questions about my travels follow from His Highness—­

“How do you like Persia?”

“Have you seen Kerbela, Bagdad, Masr, Stamboul?”

“Have the Turks many soldiers?”

“How many has Persia?”

“Is Persia fertile?”

“How do you like Zanzibar?”

Having answered each question to his Highness’ satisfaction, he handed me letters of introduction to his officers at Bagamoyo and Kaole, and a general introductory letter to all Arab merchants whom I might meet on the road, and concluded his remarks to me, with the expressed hope, that on whatever mission I was bound, I should be perfectly successful.

We bowed ourselves out of his presence in much the same manner that we had bowed ourselves in, he accompanying us to the great entrance door.

Mr. Goodhue of Salem, an American merchant long resident in Zanzibar, presented me, as I gave him my adieu, with a blooded bay horse, imported from the Cape of Good Hope, and worth, at least at Zanzibar, $500.

Feb. 4.—­By the 4th of February, twenty-eight days from the date of my arrival at Zanzibar, the organization and equipment of the “`New York Herald’ Expedition” was complete; tents and saddles had been manufactured, boats and sails were ready.  The donkeys brayed, and the horses neighed impatiently for the road.

Etiquette demanded that I should once more present my card to the European and American Consuls at Zanzibar, and the word “farewell” was said to everybody.

On the fifth day, four dhows were anchored before the American Consulate.  Into one were lifted the two horses, into two others the donkeys, into the fourth, the largest, the black escort, and bulky moneys of the Expedition.

A little before noon we set sail.  The American flag, a present to the Expedition by that kind-hearted lady, Mrs. Webb, was raised to the mast-head; the Consul, his lady, and exuberant little children, Mary and Charley, were on the housetop waving the starry banner, hats, and handkerchiefs, a token of farewell to me and mine.  Happy people, and good! may their course and ours be prosperous, and may God’s blessing rest on us all!

CHAPTER IV.  LIFE AT BAGAMOYO.