Gujarati Translation Help Needed

I'm assuming that this is written in Hindi. It was posted in Zanzibar in 1887, but to whom and where I don't know. Are there any Hindi writers/speakers out there who can help translation for me?



***Title Updated By Mod 6_5_21***

In 1887 Zanzibar was a Sultanate ruled by Sheikh Barghash bin Said. It was not taken over by the British until 1890. There were many people from various parts of India in the Sultanate so the language used on this card could be Hindi, or it could be any of the other official languages of the various parts of India at that time - I do not know. It could even be Arabic since that was the official language of the Sultanate back then, but I think that you are correct in that it appears more like one of the languages spoken in India. I hope someone can recognize it and translate it for you as I would like to learn as well.

To clarify, here is the "B" side. It's a common cancellation, SG Type Z4 dated Apr 8 87, on a 1/2 anna stamp of India. Stamps of India were used in Zanzibar between 1875 and 1895, when the country became a British Protectorate and issued its own stamps. The use of the 1/2d duty suggests it's either local postage in Zanzibar or, more likely, local post to Mumbai.

Seven basic canceller types were used in Zanzibar, and there are a number of sub-types within these particularly in SG Types Z6 and Z7. I may entertain you with these one day

Looking forward to any help you can give me!

Tim H





First of all, the language is actually Gujarati, not Hindi. The thread title should be corrected.

Since this site does not support Gujarati script, I am posting the screenshot of the Gujarati transcription of the address, typed in MS Word.



Transliteration :
Shri Zangbar Bandar Ni Chhe
Shri Damodharji Ramayolalji Sundardar

Translation:
1st line: Of Zangbar Port

Zanzibar covers written in Gujarati usually had the destination city/town name in the topmost line on the address side.

2nd line: It shows the name of the recipient Damodarji Ramayolalji

Here Shri is an masculine honorific commonly used before a name but earlier it was also used before a place name.
The last part after the name, is an appended title also used as an honorific among Gujaratis.

It should be noted the toponym Zangbar was commonly used by the Indians to indicate Zanzibar.

At the left side of the cover is the year 1887, written obliquely.
The 3rd line shows the numbers 1943 which is also an year but in Vikram Samvat calendar used by Gujaratis.

It may be mentioned that there were number of Gujaratis working in the Indian Postal Agency in Zanzibar.

Different business communities from Gujarat migrated to Zanzibar in mid-19th century primarily to trade in cloves but eventually they took control of the economy of Zanzibar.

Since this was a local cover, it required ½A postage as the Zanzibar inland rate was ½A per 14.18gm (½oz) for a long period from Apr 30,1878 to Apr 30,1921.

The cancel on the Br. India 1882 ½A SG Z46 used in Zanzibar, is Proud type KD6/SG type Z4 squared circle cancel which is recorded used by Proud from Jun 11,1884 to May 11,1887.

Here is an example of an 1888 Zanzibar local cover with address written entirely in Gujarati.



The cover is franked with Br. India 1882 ½A SG Z62 used in Zanzibar, with Proud type KD7/SG Z5 Zanzibar squared circle cancel dt. May 31,1888.

Joy, thank you ever so much for translation.