[Zope-dev] ?determine if x is a string or array in PythonScript

Hi I must be stupid or something, but I can't for the life of me work out a simple way of determining if a variable contains a string or array, in a PythonScript in Zope. I can't import type and or use type() function. isinstance doesn't work because I can't give a type as the second arg. I obviously just can't see the wood for the trees, can anyone help out this silly individual ? Rgds Tim