Of the original source of the stories Bishop Steere could himself give no complete account. They were dictated to him by natives of Zanzibar ; and as the Swahili race is of mixed Arab and Negro descent, so its stories, though African in outline, are largely tinged with Arab colour.

The stories were first published in Swahili, in order to aid and interest students of that language. The present translation of a selected few is now put forth, with illustrations, in the hope that it may attract those who are not acquainted with the original language.