ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA).
37
%(1 there can be no doubt that boys brought up
the way they have been are quite able to earn
their livelihood, either in India or if they go back
to Africa.
458. Mr. Kinnaird.'] I think that you are of
opinion that rather an unwise economy has been
exercised somewhere, which has prevented this
policy which yon have indicated being carried
out?—Yes, I think an economy has been exercised
which, as far as I can judge, is very unwise,
if the Government really wishes to put a
®top to slavery.
459. Has that proceeded from the Indian Department
of the Government ?—Yo, not from the
Indian Department of the Government, I think.
The general feeling of the Indian Government
iias, I think, been this ; that the suppression of
the slave trade was pre-eminently an imperial
■'vork, which had been undertaken and almost
carried out by Her Majesty’s Government, and
that, as a purely anti-slavery question, India was
Hot bound to take any action, or to go to any
expense in the matter ; but they were willing to
go, and they would have gone, much further
than they have ever gone, in the way of meeting
Her Majesty’s Government half way, to carry
out what they were told was a matter of imperial
Hioment ; anil, I have no doubt that if the feeling
^vhich actuated Her Majesty’s Government some
years ago actuated them still, and if the matter
''Vere put before the financial authorities of the
Indian Government, the Indian Government
^^ould not hang back in any way from doing
^^kat they were told the Cabinet considered their
<3uty to do in the matter. But when they saw
■that Her Majesty’s Government appeared to be
half-hearted in the matter and inclined to curtail
every expense, they naturally said, “ If that is
the case with regard to their own efforts, ci
fortiori, it is our duty to save everything we pos-®ihly
can, and not to attcmjit in a quixotic spirit
that which has been found too much for Her
Majesty’s Government to effect.”
460. In your communication with the Indian
HHd with the Foreign Office, did you find any
^Hipediments ?—None whatever; the Foreign
Office appeared to hold the same views that they
have always held.
461. You have no doubt that it proceeds from
the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s over watchful
Care, I suppose ?—I have no doubt it proceeds
from some general view of financial policy which
more apparent to the Chancellor of the ExcheffHer
than it is to the public or to me.
462. From the evidence you have given, you
^hink it is clear that as a very lucrative trade
^’^ould probably spring up, it is a penny wise and
Pciind foolish policy ?—I feel as convinced as I
be of anything theoretical, that that is the
463. Then with regard to the steam communication
that yon have alluded to, have any of the
Companies ever offered to open a trade and carry
,He mails to Zanzibar ?—Yes ; I believe there
have been two or three offers, but it lias always
cen found that the Post Office has dealt with it
^ H purely Post Office question. At present, of
Course, when some three months elapse without
Opportunity of receiving or sending a letter,
.he letters are as few as they would have been
hi the days of Richard the First, between London
and York ; but there cannot be a doubt that
here won hi Ln n vp w large
would be a very large postal communicabon,
if a proper and regular system were
established ; and no doubt, as has been the case
everywhere else in those seas, there would ultimately
be a very large steam traffic.
464. Could not the Indian Post Office undertake
that in itself?—I have no doubt they would
do their share, as they have done with regard to
the Peninsular Company, and other companies,
whenever they saw that the Government at home
did their share, and pointed out what they
thought India might reasonably be expected to
do.
465. Suppose a liberal and judicious offer was
made by the Indian Government, would the Post
Office here be disposed to refuse it, do you think ?
—I presume they would look at it as a mere Post
Office question, and, departmentally, no doubt
they would be right. They would say, ‘At is
not our business to look after possible profitable
routes. Somebody else must do that ; tlie number
of letters that we get stamped at the Zanzibar
post office is such that a steam lino would not
pay.” But it seems to me a Cabinet question,
whicli should be dealt with as a matter of general
policy, in which the Post Office, as well as
the India Office, and every other department
of the Government, should be required to do
what is considered necessary by the head of the
Government to carry out the great national work
of putting a final stop to slave trade by sea.
466. In India the Indian Government and its
Post Office acts in a very different spirit ; it endeavours
to develope, by means of the Post
Office, the countries tiirough which it can possibly
communicate, does it not?—Undoubtedly it has
been very successful in that way. I may mention
cases, like the communication.between Bombay
and Scinde, where, originally, a rather heavy
subsidy vfas required, but at each renewal of the
term the subsidy was reduced until now little is
paid for that particular voyage. The same would
no doubt be the case elsewhere, and you might
always make sure of reducing your subsidy to
just that point which is necessary to allow the
Government to have an opportunity to say something
with respect to punctuality of arrival and
departure.
467. With regard to Rangoon, has there not
been a very marvellous development of trade
with Rangoon ?—There has been an enormous
development of trade with Rangoon, but I think
that the circumstances of this East African Coast
are still more favourable, inasmuch as there is
a long line of coast with very few harbours, and
with very strong currents and persistent winds
lor a great portion of the year. Those are just
the circumstances under which sailing vessels are
shy of making the coast, and you can never expect
much to be done by sailing coasters ; but
steam coasting vessels can always either be sure
of making the port, or keeping from not exposing
themselves to danger,
468. It is steam communication which may be
said to have developed that Rangoon trade, or
very materially developed it, at all events? —
Certainly ; the development has been most important
since steam communication commenced.
469. It is almost in that way a considerable
supply of food is obtained from Rangoon, is it
not ï—There is a great exportation of rice.
470. TVith regard to the evidence you gave us
on that old connection of so many centuries between
Africa and India, have those points been
fairly brought before the English Government ;
is there no department of the English Govern-E
3 ment
Sir B. P/erCj
o.c.s.i.,
K.C.B.
17 July
lb‘71."
