_February 23rd._--Paid what is called a State visit to His Highness. As a special mark of honour the troops, under stout General Lloyd Mathews, were drawn up in two lines, about 300 yards in length. A tolerable military band saluted us with martial strains, while several hundreds of the population were banked behind the soldiers. The most frequent words I heard as I passed through with Consul Holmwood were: "Ndio huyu"--"Yes, it is he!" by which I gathered that scattered among the crowds must have been a large number of my old followers, pointing me out to their friends. State visits are nearly always alike. The "Present arms!" by General Mathews, the martial strains, the large groups of the superior Arabs at the hall porch, the ascent up the lofty flights of stairs--the Sultan at the head of the stairs--the grave bow, the warm clasp, the salutation word, the courteous wave of the hand to enter, the slow march towards the throne--another ceremonious inclination all round--the Prince taking his seat, which intimates we may follow suit, the refreshments of sherbet after coffee, and a few remarks about Europe, and our mutual healths. Then the ceremonious departure, again the strains of music,--Mathews' sonorous voice at "Present arms!" and we retire from the scene to doff our London dress-suits, and pack them up with camphor to preserve them from moths, until we return from years of travel "Through the Dark Continent" and from "Darkest Africa." In the afternoon, paid the business visit, first presenting the following letter:-- "To His Highness Seyyid Barghash bin Said, "Sultan of Zanzibar. "Burlington Hotel, "Old Burlington Street, London, W. "_28th January, 1887._ "Your Highness,