Mangrove Forests and Butterfly World

Just along from the Zanzibar Colobus Monkeys there are mangroves – these are not one specific tree but a mix of different trees which live in brackish tidal waters and are therefore partially submerged at high tide. Here we saw mud crabs and in the streams Trumpet Fish, Mullet and Red Snappers.

Then into the mahogany forest.

A mile down the road we came to a Butterfly Farm. A village co-operative set up to protect the surrounding forest and provide income. Butterfly chrysalis are collected from the forest and brought to the farm. The resulting butterfly are then sold on to collectors in Europe.

Slave Trade

This afternoon we took a wander through the streets of Stone Town looking for the former Slave Market, which now sits beneath the Anglican Cathedral.
Zanzibar was the centre of the Slave Trade in East African, first under the Portuguese then under Oman. Both nations exploited the Island as a staging post to ship out African slaves from as far as South Africa, Mozambique, Malaŵi, Zimbabwe and Zambia. These slaves were usually obtained by subterfuge with traders travelling to villages and persuading villagers to come to get better jobs. Many volunteered willingly and often village chiefs were paid well for allowing this. Obviously this was lies and people were sold into slavery in India, Oman, Persia (Iran) where they were not treated well (some men being castrated). In 1873 Livingston (British explorer and missionary) arrived on the island and was shocked to see slavery (having seen it abolished in the UK). He returned to the UK and petitioned (via Oxford and Cambridge Universities) parliament who sent seven warships to the island to back up missionaries who forced the sultan under duress to abolish slavery. Although it continued underground until the 20th Century it was very much weakened.
We were able to visit the two remaining slave rooms (preserved as a record) where up to 60 slaves were held for several days. Our guide showed us the monument to slavery in the church yard and then inside the church. The church was built after slavery was abolished (many former slaves had become Christian) and in spite of the astronomical price the Sultan wanted for the land.

Songs of Christmas: Day 19 : Mary Did You Know?

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 19th offering:

Day 19

Pentatonix: Mary Did You Know?

Meredith Andrews: Mary Did You Know?

Monkey World

This morning we visited Jozani Forest – home to the Zanzaibar Red Colobus Monkey. We were almost immediately lucky to get close up with a family group as they crunched on unripe Guava (apparently they cannot digest sugar!)