The Omanis introduced clove (1818) growing in Zanzibar, zenj (black - old Arabic/Persian), bar (coast - Arabic). The trade was lucrative and the Sultan of Oman moved his capital to Zanzibar in 1832, establishing a dynasty lasting until 1964.
One Sultan Bargash (1870-88) had 90 wives and every evening he would go to the palace's (Beit al-Ajaib) balcony to choose three of them for the night.
Zanzibar's population is about 1/4 million, 30% of them Muslims, 25% Christians and the rest native religions. Descendents of mixture of Omani Arabs and Shirazi Persians and Africans make up the Muslim population. Maulidi Rasul is celebrated well (R, below). Swaleh is their revered ulama.
Burton was the author of many books including The Kama Sutra of Vatsyana (1838, translator) and Personal Narrative of a Pilgimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah (1855).
Interesting post. That must have been a massive elephant!
ReplyDeleteDidn't SRB translate the Arabian Nights? The man of course had diverse interest.
Selamat Berpuasa.
BTW, My grandmother told me that sultans from these shores a century ago, did the same thing. Perhaps it was the preoccupation of the generation.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, I am simply too sleepy and am trying to keep awake. Forgive me.
SRB translated the Arabian Nights. I am now reading his book on Narrative to Meccah. My posting on Kama Sutra got be delayed after Raya for obvious reason.
ReplyDeleteIn all sultanates then, they kept harems. A sultan is not a sultan without a harem!
Selamat berpuasa.
Ya, you could not imagine how enormous the elephant with such x-tra long curved tusk.
ReplyDelete