Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 832922498

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-79587

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

Place of publication:: [London]

Publisher:: [The House of Commons]

Year of publication:: 1871

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XXIV, 242 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

186 APPENDIX TO DEPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE Appendix, No- 8, the exception of some of the lower classes of the El-Harth. Again we sent a message bidding him to go, but with the same result. Then we sent to Inm Hamood Inn Self bm Msellini, and Seif bin Khalfan, and Hussein bm Mahomed the Chief ol the El-Harth, and Hashim bin Swelira-el-Harethy, and Seif b.n Mahomed-el-Wall, and Ma.mmed bm Moorbarek, to advise him and those with him to desist, and to warn them of the conse quences of their conduct. Nevertheless they would not listen, but declared that they would not abandon Barghash ; and Barghash said that he would not quit Zanzibar, adding that if Maieed did not come out against him, he would proceed with Ins men against me, fiolit me in the town, and kill those who supported me. About this time we found a no(^ from BaiM-hasb addressed to the French Consul Cochet, wherein he wntes, ' W hat is vour opinion if, in coming to the t twn to attack Majeed, we meet with any English or other Christians on the road, shall we kill them or not? Give me your reply on this point. We also heard (but God knows the truth) that while Barghash was in the gardens, the French Consul used to supply him with munitions of war, powder, shot, &c. However, when we perceived that matters had reached such a pitch, we determined to act; but as the Government ship “ Assaye ” was in the harbour, deeming it proper that the [British] Government should be made aware of everyibing, and also of what I intended to do, I advised with Colonel Rigby (Captain Adams being present), and told them all about Bargbash’s affair, and that I'proposed attacking him. As the house in which Barghash had fortified himself was a very stronsc one, it was necessary that 1 should t ike guns lo destroy it; but haying no gunners of my own, they were kind enough to supply me with nine Englishmen for' the occasion, who accompanied us with our troops to Beiter-Ras, where we remained that night, the house which Barghash occupied being about three hours distant. In the morning our troops advanced, and we biyouacked ata place called Mevera, and in the evening moved towards the position occupied by Barghash and his people. Though it was raming hard T ordered my troops to attack, when such of Barghash s people as were on the outside retreated, leaving the rest, who still continued to maintain their ground. At this time we had no guns sufficiently large to batter the house, and as the rain was falling in torrents, I ordered my troops to retire, intending to send for some larg-r guns, as swords and muskets alone could do little against the f .rtlfied building. Accord ingly a fier spending the night, and then intending to renew the attack on the following day with larger guns, we. heard at about 10 o’clock at night that Barghash and his people had evacuated the house, which I then ordered to be occupied by an officer and a party of my soldiers. Next movninti Captain Berkeley, with a party of brave British soldiers, joined me, and I informed him of all that had occurred, and how Barghash had fled to the garden of Hu sein bin Mahomed. His advice was that the fortified position should be destroyed, and he accordingly directed a British officer and some soldiers to level it ; this is what took place so far. 11 Bar«hash, however, had escaped to the tower and entered his house during the night. On hearing this, I sent Saood to ascertain the truth, and to inform Colonel Rigby, whom I had requested to take charge of the town during my absence. Saood accordingly commu nicated with the Colonel, and it was decided that some of my own soldiers, with a party from the frigate, should surround Barihash’s house till the morning, lest he should escape. Colonel Rigby, however, and Saood wished to force the door open and bring the inmates out; but Hamood bin Ahmed bin Seif undertook to effect this without breaking the door; so he called to Barghash to open the door, and not to be afraid. He did so at once, and was brought forthwith to my house; this is what took place in the town. 12. As to myself, on waking 1 ordered my troops to return, and on reaching the town was met by Colonel Rigby and Saood, who told me all that had liappened. So I enteied my house accompanied by Colonel Rigby, and met there Captain Adams, and Captain Berkeley, and Sultan bin Hamood, and my brothers, and Barghash. On asking the latter what had induced him to actas he had done, he replied, “It is useless to talk of the past; all I now ask for is my personal safety.” I answered, “ You shall have it, and all that I require of you is, that you should leave Zanzibar, and here is the Government ship ‘ Assaye’ ready to take you.” He then asked for three days delay to prepare for the voyage, which was granted. He then wrote a paper in the presence of the above named, promising to quit Zanzibar, and never to return without my permission, and the paper was witnessed bv the signatures of all present. Three days after he left in the ‘^Assaye bound for Muscat. It was on account of all this that I cut off the monthly salary which I used to allow Barghash. ' 13. As to the El-Harth, after God had permitted them to be deluded, they repented of their evil deeds, and came in a body to confess their faults, and to ask forgiveness. This was granted, and they then vowed to be obedient to me, and to take part with me against every opponent. At present they appear to be loyal, but God only knows what is in their hearts. 14. After the departure of the “Assaye,” the French Commodore arrived, and requested me to inform him of all tliat had taken place. I directed Suleiman bin Hamed to do this, and he got Ahmed bin Naaman, the Secretary, to write the whole on a paper, and to take it to the Commodore ; but I myself had no conversation with him on the subject. 15. I desire, however, to observe to his Lordship the Governor General, that my brother Thoweynee has been the cause of all these troubles ; for he it was who violated the covenant, annulled

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

Monograph

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation