City of sisal and quaint names

• Nestled deep in picturesque Tanzania, Tanga owes its rich heritage to 18th century explorers and farmers

It’s a pleasant surprise for us to find the Tanga Memorial Cemetery — a Commonwealth grave — in a well kept yard with a wall of 10 panels, including those for the Tanga Jasin Memorial.

There are names of 62 Indian soldiers who died at Jasin (near Tanga) in 1915 and whose graves are not known. Buried either here or in unknown graves on the battlefield are 394 British and Indian officers. “Their Names Liveth Forever More” reads a panel.

My late grandfather, whose father was a Sikh soldier, fought in World War I and was killed somewhere in Europe.

My grandfather tried but he never found out where. Many descendents of the people listed on the panels might never know the fate of their forbearers.

With the golden cast of the setting sun, we make the outline of the Usambaras from the Tanga Yacht Club, close to Toten Island.

Toten (German for dead) stands alone in the bay, with the yachts bobbing on the ocean ripple.

The seafood is delicious and reasonably priced. We then meet some local members of the delightful club.

Email: rupi.mangat@yahoo.com