The ruins of a large Swahili house (circa 19th century) on the outskirts of modern Pate Village. Of coral construction, the inner wall features decorated niches, called zidaka, in which Swahili women traditionally put their imported Chinese porcelain and bowls. The tradition of fine plasterwork in the region survives to this day.Pate was established by Arabs from Arabia in the 13th century, or possibly earlier. By the time Portuguese seafarers reached there in the 16th century, the place was in decline although it was still famous for making silk cloth. Its importance declined further when its ruling family was driven from the island by the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1865. The place has never regained its former glory.