Green, oh greener than emeralds, the treetops lure the dhows to shore, White, oh whiter than diamonds, blue waves crash on the golden sand, And nothing is more beautiful than Zanzibar, from the Western Isles to the Marquesand. I have witnessed the world’s wild youth, when love knew no bounds, Since ‘Venture’s beginning, I have called upon men, And their women have endured the ages, longing to discover What mysterious allure can draw Across the bare seas, from reef to shore, Until the feverish captains depart from port and river.
Red, oh redder than lips, my flowers sway in the scorching sun, Blue, oh bluer than maidens’ eyes, are the waves’ gentle swell in the monsoon, And there are scents of cloves, musk, lemon trees, and cinnamon.
Njo hapa in Kiswahili means “come hither!”
Views on ease and affluence differ depending on perspective. While his elder brother lived, Monty thrived as a cavalry officer, his income and pay sufficient for a gentleman’s lifestyle in Bombay. They say he was unmatched in polo, an expert tiger hunter on foot, and a fearless leader of squadrons.