The eyes of the civilised world turn to Africa with ever-increasing interest. It was my privilege in the spring of 1897 to accompany Theodore Burtt to East Africa, Zanzibar, and Pemba, and to gain some little insight into the actual working of slavery on the eve of the important juncture of the aboli tion of the legal status in those islands. We received unfailing courtesy from the officials Of the Government, and our thanks are due to General Sir Lloyd William Mathews, to Consul General Sir Arthur Hardinge, to vice-consul D. R. O'sullivan, to Mr. Herbert Lister, and others, both in' Mombasa, Zanzibar, and Pemba, w'ho furthered our inquiries, and gave usevery assistance in their' power. With introductions from the authorities in Zanzibar, we made the acquaintance of leading Arab sheikhs on the island of Pemba, and visited a number of shambas and plantations on both islands.