ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA).
law and justice, that disgraced the latter part of
Seyed Mujid’s reign, and to this agency he has
been ever since I assumed the duties, most
respectful ; but I have invariably stated distinctly
that I hael no reason whatever to think that on
the subject of the slave trade, he had in any way
cnanged, or was prepared to grant what was asked
through Mr. Churchill, although he had since
tben strictly fulfilled the letter of former contracts,
^ow it seems plain that he will not listen to any
proposals, and to make such to him, without being
^eady at once with the means of enforcing them,
^prild be injudicious. Remonstrance and intimidation
are alike useless ; to gain our object we
must be prepared to act, and either to cripple his
income or take the place from his hands. IVhat-Gver
we do, ought, I think, to be done without
previous notice, as Seyed Burgash, if I read him
nright, is a man, once danger is plain to him, to
save himself from us by any means, although
these might compromise his independence. One
thing is perfectly obvious to all who have had an
opportunity of judging, namely, that as yet our
endeavours have been thrown away, and that the
slave trade will flourish as before so long as the
old treaties alone are in force.”
186. Lastly, I wish to read a report from
Admiral Cockburn, which is dated from Zanzibar,
the 31st of x\lay,M871 : I take an early
opportunity after my arrival here, to write about
the slave trade ; I am sorry to be obliged to give
^ bad report. It is without doubt a fact, that the
trade is as busy and profitable as ever it was ; in
spite of all our exertions, every new plan adopted
by us is quickly met by a cunning device of the
Arabs encouraged by the Sultan, if not actively,
certainly negatively. It is painful to any naval
officer to be obliged to acknowledge this. Under
existing treaties, and the recent instructions
respecting domestic slaves, the Sultan having the
power to give passports to any number of vessels
ffiden with poor living creatures to be transported
fo different parts of his dominions, it is rendered
mmost impossible for a cruiser to take a dhow
^Dywhere south of Lamoo, and during the S. W.
^lonsoon it is very difficult to keep cruisers sufficiently
near the coast to intercept them running
with a fresh breeze. I assure thew lordships, it
is a matter of sneer and jeer by the Arabs, our impotent
efforts to stop that horrible abomination ;
yes, my lords, even the Sultan says the English
will talk and bully, but can’t or won’t stop the
trade. It is positively evident that a new system
must be adopted. I propose that the money we
annually expend in this course be employed in a
more profitable and useful manner ; I suggest
that a stationary ship to act as a depot and guardship,
with a steam launch, be sent here under a
captain who has had some experience in this
duty ; that a certain sum per annum be paid to
the Sultan, on condition that he gives up the
slave trade, importing only a few to fill up vacancies
in his dominions. Your Lordships are aware
that the Sultan receives about 10,0001. per
annum, by a tax upon the entry as well as the
exit of slaves. The sum given to the Sultan
would be recovered by the saving in bounties for
captured nogroes ; and the stationary guardship
would be cheaper than a cruiser ; a large frigate
without steam would be the best vessel, juryrigged,
and kept like a man of war, with a commander’s
complement of officers and men. This
ship would be a military support to the Sultan,
if he agreed to our own terms. I would add the
advantage of a stationary officer at this port is
greatly increased by the known fact that the
East India Government do not encourage their
ao-ent in his efforts for the destruction of the inhuman
traffic, which of course hampers him,
if it does not damp his zeal. I visited the slave
market here yesterday, and a more painful
and disgusting sight I never saw. Hundreds of
poor negroes of both sexes, ranged about in all
sorts of conditions, some living skeletons, others
fat and well dressed, pulled about with a crook
stick and examined just like sheep or other
animals in a market. I will take another opportunity
to give further information, but I would
not delay the request for the stationary depot and
guardship.” That nearly endorses the proposal
of the Foreign Office Committee.
Sir John William Kaye, called in; and Examined.
187. Mr. KinnairdP] What office do you hold ?
—I am Secretary in the Political and Secret
pepartment of the Secretary of State for India
ffi Council.
188. How long have you held that office ?—
I have held it ever since the Secretary of State
for India’s office has been established in 1858,
and previously to that time I held a similar
appointment in the East India Company; altogether
I have held the office for 15 years.
189. Has the India Office correspondence relating
to the affairs of Zanzibar passed through
your hands ?—Entirely ; in a ministerial position
of course, under the Secretary of State.
^ 190. Will you state in what manner British
relations with the Sultan of Zanzibar are conducted
?—They are conducted through an officer
■who is conjointly agent and consul ; during the
bme of the East India Company he was the
East India Company’s agent, and he was also
the consul appointed by the British Government ;
since the management of Indian affairs has
passed under the hands of the Secretary of State
for India in Council, he has been British agent
0.116.
and consul ; as agent appointed by the Government
of Bombay, and as consul appointed by Her
Majesty’s Government ; formerly, of course, the
consular commissions were issued by the Foreign
Office, but since the establishment of the office
of Secretary of State for India, it was, after
correspondence between Lord Stanley and Lord
Malmesbury, agreed that the consular commission
should be issued by the India Office, so that
both as agent and consul he is under the India
Office.
191. By whom is he, in fact, appointed? —
He is absolutely and practically appointed as
agent, by the Government of Bombay, and then,
ex officio, he becomes consul on the part of the
British Government.
192. He holds in fact the two diplomas, one
from the Home Government and the other from
the Bombay Government? — Yes, as political
agent from the Indian Government, having his
consular commission from the Queen; the only
difference between lire state of things iormerly
and since the establishment of the Secretary of
State’s office is this, that the Secretary of State
B 3 for
Hon.
/. Vivian,
13 July
1B71.
Sir
. IV. Kaye.
