162
APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE
Appendix, No. 8. they merit, I reproduce them entire from the Appendix. That officer writes—I consider
that the connection which existed between Oman and a country so far remote as
East Africa, was always an unnatural one, and ever prejudicial to the interests of both
countries. This I mean with reference to the want of all system and regularity in the
government of Arab states, in which everything depends on the personal influence and
presence of the ruling chief. The selections from the records of the Bombay Government
relating to the Persian Gulf abundantly prove the dangers and disorders which
constantly threatened the late Imam’s possessions in Oman in consequence of his absence
at Zanzibar, On several occasions the danger was only averted by the influence and
intervention of the British Government. Had the late Imam continued to reside at
Muscat, it is probable that, with his energetic, shrewd character, he would have greatly
extended his power, and firmly established it. In 1846 Lieutenant Colonel Hamertou
writes to the Secretary to Government as follows :—‘ I brought to the notice of his Highness
the injury which was occasioned to his interests in Arabia from his protracted stay at
Zanzibar, and that the Government at Muscat was but ill-administered. His Highness
replied that this had been a matter of much distress to him lately.’ And in another letter
during the same year, he writes to the Secretary to Government, Bombay—‘ I have, in
obedience to instructions, most fully communicated to his Highness the Imam the state
of his affairs in Arabia, as appears from the copies of the documents enclosed with the
letter. His Highness was aware of everything, but did not appear to consider matters so
serious as perhaps they are. The Imam has always appeared to me to care little for his
Arabian possessions further than the seaports. His Highness’s influence in the interior
of Oman is irretrievably lost, from the feeble nature of his government ; and he knows
and feels it. His Highness last year deputed Sheikh Alii bin Massood to proceed to
Oman from Zanzibar, to try to procure men from the different tribes in Oman to assist
his Highness in the war he is now carrying on against the people of Sewee ; but the
Sheikh has returned without being able to procure a single sword from the tribes in
Oman.’
“ As an Arab chief, the late Imam was a very superior man ; it may be many years
before his equal is found among his successors. From his personal bravery, his wealth,
and his long reign, he had far more influence amongst those by whom he was surrounded
than is likely to be possessed by either of his sons. Nevertheless, his absence from Oman
destroyed his influence with the tribes, and nearly caused him the loss of all his Arabian
possessions.
“ With respect to the Zanzibar dominions, I think their complete severance from Muscat
would soon lead to the stoppage of the northern slave-trade. The ruler of Zanzibar would
feel independent of the northern Arabs, who every year swarm at Zanzibar during the
north-east monsoon, to prey upon him.” The sum distributed by Syud Majeed amongst
these people every year is a serious drain upon the Zanzibar Treasury. I imagine that
the only reason why these Arabs are thus paid is with the idea that their aid may one day
be required. If these payments were stopped, and vigorous measures were adopted for
one or two seasons by an English gunboat to capture the boats of these piratical tribes
when found carrying slaves, 1 think they would soon discontinue visiting this coast, and
probably find some more honest occupation.
“ I think, if Zanzibar is governed with prudence, it may perform a very important part
in the future commerce and civilisation of East Africa. From Port Natal to Gape
Gardafui, the only state from which any progress or stability can be hoped is Zanzibar.
Its commerce has rapidly increased within the last few years, and it bids fair to become
the chief emporium of trade on the east coast. Its ])Opulation possesses valuable elements
for commerce in the wealthy and numerous settlers from India, and the enterprising
Arabs and Sowahilis who travel over Central Africa, distributing foreign goods in
exchange for the products of the country. The Portuguese possessions on the east
coast are in a hopeless state of decay, and there is not the slightest probability ot the
Portuguese ever advancing the civilisation or commerce of the interior. If Zanzibar
should be an independent state, the dominions of its ruler would probably soon extend
into the interior, and his power would be consolidated, and in time it might form a
considerable African kingdom. But supposing that, from the non-residence of the ruling
chief, from its being continually held as a dependency of Muscat, from neglect or feeble
rule, such as Oman has suflered from for so many years in consequence of the late Imam
being a non-resident, the Zanzibar state were gradually to lose its power over the
territories of the mainland, the petty sultans and chiefs would soon become independent ;
the treaties for the suppression of the slave trade would be disregarded, foreign eettle-«
Appendix B, reply ments would be established, and all hope of progress be destroyed.”*
to Query 36. Avould be superfluous to add anything to these considerations in favour of the
independent sovereignty of Zanzibar. Fortunately the expediency on which they are
based, and which alone would hardly suffice to justify the severance of that state from
the parent state of Muscat, is adequately supported and confirmed by the arguments
founded on right, which have already been discussed in the foregoing pages.
42. But if, notwithstanding these combined considerations, Syud Thoweynec, as the
ove reign of Oman, may still" be deemed to have some claim on the African territories
of the kingdom, either in virtue of the relationship which has hitherto existed between
those dependencies and the parent state, or by way of indemnity for any chance which,
throuo’h having consented to"forego his projected invasion of Zanzibar, he may consider
“ that
