Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 832922498

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-79587

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

Place of publication:: [London]

Publisher:: [The House of Commons]

Year of publication:: 1871

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XXIV, 242 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

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Captain P. Colomb R. N. 25 July 1871, o4 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKE secured only one port 'of embarkation for all ^ sla\cs ui the Sultan of Zanzibar's dominions, would not that very much facilitate the suppres sion of the slave trade?—1 should think it would. 128o. Lord F. Ccwenclish.~\ Do all dhows im porting slaves into Arabia and Persia pass the point you mention. Ras el Iladd ?—Yes. 1286. You think a tolerably strong fleet, sta tioned oif that point, would absolutely stop the import into Arabia and Persia?—At first they would ; then as it became known that the ships were stationed there it is not impossible that the slaves might be landed further down the coast. 1287^ Are there ports where they could be landed ?—They would be landed on the beach ; but there is a considerable difficulty about that, because theie is nothing like settled Grovernment on that part of the coast, and I think the number so landed would be small. 1288. Of course if the trade were absolutely stopped, if it were known to the Northern Arab that all the slaves were certain to be seized, the trade would soon come to an end, because it w-ould not pay ; therefore though for a time the slaves might have to undergo the suffering caused by the 40 days’ passage, yet it would diminish the suffering, on the whole ?—You would have fewer slaves, but the trade might still remain brisk, be cause the demand remaining the same in Arabia, as you diminished the supply the price would rise. 1289. If they could not pass Ras el Hadd, where could they be landed ?—You are fighting a sort of battle with people who have great in° terests at stake, and it is quite possible that they might find some means, after a little time, of evading you. 1290. Do you imagine that the ruler of Mus- cat^could put an end to this trade if he wished ? —So far as 1 know, and so far as I have heard, he is in the hands of his great men, and he can not do very much. 1291. If we made it his interest to stop it could he do it ?—I should think so. 1292. Mr. Shaio Lefevre.~\ Are there many points where slaves could be landed along the coast of Arabia, or are they generally landed at one or two special points ?—Nearly all the slaves are landed inside Ras el Hadd, and further up on the Arabian coast inside the Gulf. 1293. Supposing a slaver is pursued near the coast, could it land at any point and deposit its slaves ?—If the slave vessel is between the ship, or the boat and the coast, the slave vessel will always land her slaves on the beach. 1294. Could the slaves be forwarded on to the port of destination from there ?—Yes. 1295. There would be no difficulty in that ?— There would be a difficulty, but it could be done. 1296. And is done ?—Yes. 1297. So that in fact the whole coast is open to the dhows in that way ?—No, it is not, because of the unsettled state of the country ; if they landed their slaves further down the coast than some- wheie CiOse to Ras el Hadd, they w ould never be certain that their cargo wmuld not be captured from them after it w as landed. 1298. AYhat is the extent of coast upon which they could land their slaves with safety ?— Probably, 20 miles. 1299. It would only be necessary to watch r BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE closely those 20 miles?—You wmiild spread a larger circle to seaward than that, but the close watching of the coast wmuld extend over that area. 1300. Are any slaves landed at Mokullah or Shera ?—I think very few ; there are no signs of slaving going on there of late, so far as our%hip9 knew. 1301. Mr. KinnairdJ] Have you any reason to think that any slaves are shipped to Cuba ?—- No. 1302. Mr. J. Tulbot.~^ Are you acnuainted with Zanzibar itself ?—Yes. 1303. IVhat is your opinion as to the healthi ness of Zanzibar ?—I think it is very healthy. 1304. Do you think that occupation is to be found there for liberated slaves ?—I think there would be if Zanzibar belonged to the EnMish. 1305. If its caijabilities were properly de veloped ?—Yes ; but I think that as things stand at present, liberated slaves there would simply be slaves under another name. . 1306. Do you agree wdth a former wdtness that it would be very desirable if some place could be provided under the jirotection of the British flag, at which liberated slaves could be received prior to_ their being absorbed in free labour?—Cer tainly. 1307. T ou think that would be a very good wmy of providing for the gradual suppressimi of the ti acie ? Yes, I think that would be very desirable. 1308. Mr. Fötaler.1 Did you find your health suffer in your service on the coast?—Consider ably; chiefly because it is very arduous work when you are actively engaged in the suppression of the trade. You have to chase vessels, and board them at the rate, perhaps, of 10, 12, 14, or 20 per day ; you are obliged to be perpetually in the sun, and perpetually on the strain, and it tells upon you after a few weeks of it. 1309. It was on that ground you expressed the opinion that three years was long enough for any officer to remain on the station ?—Spelikino- of the station generally, I think three years i1 enough. 1310. Sir J. Hay.~\ Is there anything further which you wmuld wish to state to the Committee? —I should like to mention that there is a trade to Madagascar which is still in a more or less flourishing state ; though we have suppressed it to a considerable extent by the treaty with Ma dagascar, there is still a regular trade from the southern part of A trica, a trade which does not pass through Zanzibar at all. 1311. In the Portuguese territory? Yes, south of it. 1312. South of Cape Delgado?—Yes. 1313. Commander De Kantzow says, in a letter dated 1st October 1869, in Blue Book B. for 1871 : '' The whole coast has been searched by our ship and boats without observiim a slave dhow, and it is but fair to add, without a sio-n of slave-trading”; do you concur in that state ment ?—That might be true, and yet the slave trading might he going on, because, at the same time at Madagascar, the current report was that there were slaves in the interior waiting the de parture of our ships to be sent over, and Captain de^ Kantzow mentions rumours of slave ships being heard of south of his station. 1314. You do not think the Portuo'uese Government has entirely suppressed the 'slave trade on their portion of Southern Africa?—We know

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