Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/415

 The Americans were the first Western nation who made a treaty of commerce with Zanzibar, in 1835, and, thanks to the privileges then secured, their trade with the island has long surpassed that of the other foreign nations. Most of the Europeans living in Zanzibar are either speculators or connected with the shipping.

As traders they find it difficult to compete with their Eastern rivals for the general traffic with India and the neighbouring continent. A number of political agents also find their way to Zanzibar, in connection with the international rivalries of the European powers. Since the year 1873 the local merchants are forbidden to take any part in the slave-trade. but before that time