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

Bibliographic data

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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VI REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE “ of domestic slavery in Zanzibar, nor with the bonâ fide transport of slaves from “ one part of the Sultan’s territory lo another. So long as this traffic shall not be made a cloak to cover the foreign slave trade, which his Highness is bound “ by treaty to prevent, and which Her Majesty’s Government are also deter- “ mined to suppress.” It appears fiom the evidence that the transport of slaves between the island and coast dominions of the Sultan of Zanzibar has afforded a cover for the foreign slave trade, as the traders procure at Zanzibar or Kilwa the requisite port clear ances and passes for Lamoo, and thence run northwards, taking their chance of escaping the British cruisers. There are no means of ascertaining tlie exact numbers intended for the foreign market, but different witnesses have estimated the numbers annually needed to maintain the supply of slave labour in the dominion of Zanzibar, at from 1,700 to 4,000, which would leave at least 16,000 as the number destined for the foreign slave market. The treaty stipulations and agreements with the Sultans of Muscat and Zanzibar have been carried into effect by various Acts of Parlia ment and Orders in Council, which contain provision for the establishment of courts of adjudication for the trial of vessels captured as slavers at Zanzibar. The carrying out of these measures has been committed to the Political Agent of the Government of India, who also holds the appointment of British Consul at Zanzibar, and, in addition to the ordinary duties of a Political Agent and Consul, is Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court. The expenses of this Esta blishment are borne by the Indian Government. The Government have proposed to enter into a new treaty with the Sultan of Zanzibar to the following eflect “ 1. To limit the shipment of slaves from the mainland to one point only on “ the African coast, namely. Dar Selam, and to prohibit entirely their export from “ any other places. “ 2. To make Zanzibar the only port for the l eception of slaves shipped from “ Dar Selam, but with liberty to transport from thence to Pemba and Mombaza “ only ; imports of slaves to any other place, or which have not come through “ Zanzibar, should be declared illegal, and liable to seizure. “ 3. That the number of slaves exported from Dar Selam to Zanzibar, and thence to Pemba and Mombaza, shall be strictly limited to the actual require- “ ments of the inhabitants of those places, to be annually settled by mutual consent “ between the Sultan and the British Agent, such number to be gradually de- “ creased so as to cease altogether within a certain time. “ 4. That every vessel engaged in the transport of slaves shall be liable to capture, unless she is provided with a proper pass from the Sultan, which shall be valid only for one voyage, and with distinctive marks on her hull and sails ; “ a heavy penalty being attached to any piracy of these passes or marks. “ 5. That the public slave markets at Zanzibar shall be closed. 6. That the Sultan shall engage from the date of the treaty to punish severely “ any of his subjects who may be proved to be concerned, directly or indirectly, in “ the slave trade, and especially any attempt to molest or interfere with a liberated “ slave. 7. That the Kutchees, and other natives of Indian states under British pro- “ tection, shall be forbidden, after a date to be fixed by the Government of India (( to possess slaves, and that in the meantime they shall be prevented from acquir- “ ing any fresh slaves. Lastly, “ The treaty shall contain a stipulation providing for the eventual entire prohibition of the export of slaves from the mainland.” The Government have sent out instructions to press this proposed treaty upon the present Sultan ; but pending the inquiry of this Committee nothing more has been done. It

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