There have been quite a number of changes in the way the natives live since I first arrived on the island. I know I changed their way of life completely, but there are some changes I did not expect. For example, when I first came here, it looked like they were having a large feast for a very small baby. Maybe it was a celebration for a newborn? Anyways, ever since we came, babies have been born but there are no celebrations or feasts. I guess there’s absolutely no time for it – for they work non-stop, except for sleeping – and I’ll bet they’re too frightened to even think about having a feast.  They’re probably scared of being whipped or killed. 

I’ve noticed their weapons have changed too. They used to have spears, bows and arrows, and a few others I couldn’t recognize, but now they use guns and swords just like a European would. They look so frightened every time they fire one of those guns; I guess they’re just not used to it yet. As for swords – a lot of them won’t even touch them. I see where they’re coming from, in a way. I mean, they’ve never used any of these weapons before. I suppose I would be scared too. 

Their clothing has changed as well. When I arrived, they walked around nude, or had very little clothing on them, for it’s so hot on this island! They had feathers and paintings all over their bodies, too, to represent their culture. Now, they actually dress like a European. They wear shirts and pants, and have shoes on their feet. They no longer wear paint or feathers, either. We don’t exactly give them time to make them, anyway. And besides, I’ve destroyed everything else in their tradition, so why make them dress like they’re still the people they once were? 

The Europeans have changed the natives in so many different ways, but I think the biggest change is that they are no longer free. They are forced to work, every single one of them, and we sell the children to people who need slaves in our colony. Before all of this, they awoke whenever they wanted to, and only worked when something needed to be done. They spent a lot of time with family and held community events, like feasts and parties. Now, they are forced to work all day and only have breaks for sleeping, for they are too tired to do anything else. They no longer spend any time with their family, not only because they have no time for them, but they are all separated. Most of the children are slaves who belong to other families and full-grown people have to construct buildings for our colony. That basically subtracts any time they have for family. 

The natives are totally different people now. They live like Europeans and speak like them as well. We have completely changed the natives; they no longer live how they want to anymore.  

Was it necessarily “right” to change their lives around? 

I’m not sure of the answer and I probably will never know, but I don’t want to. It doesn’t really matter! Zanzibar is expanding faster than ever, so that’s all that I have to be concerned about.  

Everything is going my way. 

Francisco de Almeida

 A native dressed in European clothing.