VIH 
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE 
into foreign bottoms from the want of any regular postal communication with 
Zanzibar ; the mails lying sometimes at Seychelles for months together waiting 
for a chance vessel. It has been stated to them that a very small subsidy would 
suffice to start monthly steam communication, either with the Seychelles, distant 
about 800 miles, in correspondence with French steamers running from Aden, 
or from the latter port direct. 
Your Committee having heard the evidence, are strongly of opinion that 
all legitimate means should be used to put an end altogether to the East African 
slave trade. 
They believe that any attempt to supply slaves for domestic use in 
Zanzibar, will always be a pretext and cloak for a foreign trade, while the loss 
of life and the injuiy caused to maintain even the limited supply of slaves re 
quired for this purpose, must of necessity be so great as to forbid this country 
continuing to recognise any such traffic in slaves. 
It has been stated by some of the witnesses, that should the Sultan con 
sent to relinquish the slave trade a revolution would follow, and that a sudden 
stoppage of the importation of slaves into Zanzibar would seriously affect the 
industrial position of the island ; but on the other hand, a witness of great 
experience has given it in evidence, that the Zanzibar Arabs are fully aware that 
the trade will be stopped, and are beginning to understand that more profit can 
be made by retaining the labourers to cultivate their own country, than by selling 
them away as slaves, while the abolition of the trade would encourage free 
labourers from all parts to reside at Zanzibar, so ensuring a larger and. better 
supply of labourers than exists at present. 
It appears from the evidence, that the parties from whom serious opposi 
tion may be expected are the northern Arabs, but the presence of an English 
naval force at Zanzibar would afford sufficient protection. 
Your Committee therefore recommend that it be notified to the Sultan of 
Zanzibar, that the existing treaty provisions having been systematicallyevaded, and 
having been found not only insufficient to protect the negro tribes in the interior 
of Africa from destruction, but rather to foster and encourage the foreign trade 
in slaves. Her Majesty’s Government, unless further securities can be obtained 
for the entire prohibition of the foreign slave trade, will feel itself compelled to 
abrogate the treaty, and to take such further legitimate measures as it may find 
necessary to put an end to all slave trade whatever, whether foreign or coasting. 
Further, that should the Sultan he willing to enter into a new treaty, having 
for its object the entire abolition of the slave trade, Her Majesty’s Govern 
ment would agree to settle at Zanzibar a propoi’tion of adult negroes, who might 
thereafter be captured by Her Majesty's cruisers, provided the Sultan aoreed to 
such measures for their protection and freedom as might be deemed necessary.. 
It has l)een represented to the Committee by some of the witnesses, that 
as the Sultan derives a considerable part of his leveuues from the slave trade, it 
would be necessary to make him some compensation for the loss he would sustain 
by the abolition of the trade. 
It appears from the evidence, that the Sultan of Zanzibar levies a tax of 
two dollars upon all slaves shipped from Kilwa for Zanzibar, and four dollars 
upon those shipped for Lamoo, and a further tax of two dollars upon all slaves 
shipped from Zanzibar. The witnesses have estimated the proceeds of this tax 
at various amounts, some putting it as high as 15,000 1. oi- 20,000 1. ; others as 
low as 5,000/. ; but whatever the amount may be, the prospect of compensation 
has been suggested in the négociations for a new treaty with the Sultan, already 
alluded to in this Report. 
It has been suggested that, as an equivalent for the supposed loss to his 
revenue, the Sultan should be released from the payment of an annual subsidy of 
40,000 crowns to the Sultan of Muscat, which was arranged upon the partition 
of the dominion of the Imaum of Muscat, between his two sons, by the Indian 
Government as arbitrators ; but it now appears that the circumstances under 
which it was supposed this release might be effected have altered. 
It has been given in evidence that from 1,700 to about 4,000 slaves is 
probably sufficient to supply the requirements of the island and dominions of 
Zanzibar