ON  SLAVE  TRADE  (EAST  COAST  OF  AFRICA).

177

Momba-a  in  order  that  he  niight  present  it  to  the  French.  On  what  ground  is  this  opinion  Appendix,  No.  8,
formed  ?  Syiid  Tlinweynee  disclaims  it  altogether.
A.—This  question  is  answered  by  my  reply  to  question  31.
Q.  35.—You  are  doubtless  aware  that,  prior  to  ih^  notification  of  the  existing  treaty
between  Muscat  and  France,  his  late  Highness  Syud  Saeed  requested  to  know  the  precise
import  of  Article  XVII.  in  the  said  treaty,  which  gives  to  France  “  liberty  to  hire  or  erect
houses  and  warehouses  at  Zanzibar  or  elsewhere.”  It  appears  from  a  memorandum  published ­
  in  the  “  Persian  Gulf”  Government  Selections,  page  71,  that  his  late  Highness  was
satisfied  with  the  explanation  given  by  Commodore  Monsieur  Romain  Desfosses.  Nevertheless, ­
  as  this  point  may  eventually  give  rise  to  grave  discussions,  I  shali  feel  obliged  if
you  would  provide  me  with  a  copy  of  anv  correspondence  which  may  have  passed  on  the
subject,  either  through  the  Consulate  or  the  Foreign  Department  of  the  Government  of  his
late  Highness  Syud  Saeed?
A.—  Co  pies  of  all  correspondence  on  this  subject,  which  is  on  the  records  of  the  Consulate,
is  herewith  annexed,  marked  L*
Q.  36.—Will  you  point  out  in  detail  any  advantages  likely  to  result  by  the  severance  of
the  Zanzibar  state  from  that  of  Muscat?
A.—1  consider  that  the  connection  that  existed  between  Oman  and  a  country  so  remote
as  East  Africa  was  always  an  unnatural  one,  and  very  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  w  hich  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  threatened  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  Hamerton  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  administend.  His  Highness  replied  that  ibis
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  appeals  from  the  copies  of  the  documents  inclosed  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  but  little  for  his  Arabian  possessions
further  than  the  seaports.  His  Highness’s  influence  in  the  interior  of  Omanis  irretrievably
lost,  from  the  feeble  nature  of  his  government,  and  he  knows  and  feels  it.  His  Highness
last  year  deputed  Sheikh  Ali  bin  Masaood  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  (iom  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  amongst  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  de^tioyed  his  influence  with  the  tribes,  and
nearly  caused  him  the  loss  of  all  his  Arabian  possessions.  With  respect  to  ihe  Zanzibar
dominions,  I  think  its  complete  severance  from  Muscat  would  soon  lead  to  the  stoppage  of
the  northern  slave-tiade.  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  sums  distributed  by  Syud  Majeed  amongst  these  people  every  year  is  a  serious  drain
upon  the  Zanzibar  treasury.  I  imagine  the  only  reason  why  these  Arabs  are  thus  paid  is
with  tlie  idea  that  their  aid  may  some  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,  I  think  they  would
soon  discontinue  to  visit  this  coast,  and  probably  find  some  more  honest  occupation.  I
think  that,  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  Cape  Guardafùi
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  tiade  on  the  east  coast.  Its  population  possesses  valuable  elements  for  commerce  in  the
wealthy  and  numerous  settlers  from  India,  and  the  enterprising  Arabs  and  Sowahllis  who
travel  over  Central  Africa,  distributing  foreign  goods  in  exchange  for  the  products  of  the
country.  'Ihe  Portuguese  possessions  on  the  east  coast  are  in  a  hopeless  state  of  decay,
and  there  is  not  the  slightest  probability  of  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,  suchas  Oman  has  suffered  from  for
so

*  As  this  point  has  no  direct  hearing  on  the  subject  of  the  present  inquiry,  the  correspondence  referred
to  is  omitted  from  the  attached  Appendices.
0.116.  Z