Frasilah

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A frasilah is a historical weight unit that was used in the 19th century on the island of Zanzibar and in eastern Africa. A frasilah is equivalent to about 35 pounds (16 kg). This weight unit was used mainly by the Arabs involved in the ivory trade to weigh the mass of elephant tusks and other goods used in the trade, such as beads, cloth and brass wire. In 1871, a frasilah of ivory could be purchased inland for 20 US$ (around 500 US$ in 2011) in goods and sold in Zanzibar for about 60 US$ (around 1 500 US$ in 2011).

Zanzibar semi-autonomous part of Tanzania

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. It is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja and Pemba Island. The capital is Zanzibar City, located on the island of Unguja. Its historic centre is Stone Town, which is a World Heritage Site.

Ivory trade commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks

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