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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ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA). 141 punishment. This, as Syud Thoweynee admits, would be a stretch of legitimate au thority on our part ; but he maintains that anything short of it will fail ; and, moreover, that to render the scheme effectual, British agencies should be established along the coast, and British steamers employed there, who should act in concert with the local authorities to carry out its provisions. 62. The foregoing suggestions are not devoid of plausibility, but the policy of adopting the arbitrary measures proposed is fairly open to question, especially at the present juncture when the idea prevails that the chief of Bahrein has sought the protection of the Persian flag, partly with a view of ridding himself and his people of the restriction im posed upon him, with regard to the slave trade, by his treaty with the British. 63. It is obvious, moreover, that foreign European governments would hesitate unless their concurrence was first secured, to grant to the ruler of Zanzibar, or to his officials on the coast, the authority requisite for effectually carrying out the provisions of this scheme towards their subjects, or towards vessels sailing under their flags, and any attempt to execute the same, without such concurrence, might lead to serious complications, and eventually, perhaps, to measures subversive of the existing native sovereignty. Therefore, as at present advised, I deem it prudent to withhold any decided opinion on the subject of slavery on the eastern coast of Africa until by personal inquiries at Zanzibar, I shall be better able to judge of the feasibility of the foregoing and of other suggestions which have been advanced for its suppression. Much, doubtless, will depend on the temper of those foreign powers who have commercial and other interests in that quarter, and their concurrence is most likely to be enlisted by our pro pounding measures, which, whilst conducive to the attainment of the benevolent object contemplated by the British Government, will be devoid of every feature calculated to wound their national sensibilities. Such a concert secured, the ruler of Zanzibar might, without fear of the consequences, carry into execution, within his own territories, the recognised prohibitive laws towards any of the subjects of those Eastern States, or chief- doms bordering on the Persian Gulf, whose rulers have hitherto declined to co-operate in any effectual measures for the suppression of the slave trade. 64. The importance of the topics discussed will, I trust, be deemed an ample apology for the length of the foregoing Report. I conclude by submitting the same to the favour able consideration of Government. I have, &c, (signed) W. M. Coghlan, Brigadier. In charge Muscat Zanzibar Commission. Appendix (A.) f Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Humerton, to the Right Honourable the Earl of Aberdeen.^ My Lord, Zanzibar, 31 July 1844. With reference to the communication from his Highness the Imam to your Lordship’s address, under date the 23rd instant, relative to his Highness’s intention to appoint his sons Syud Khaled and Syud Thoweynee to succeed on the death of his Highness to the government of his African and Arabian possessions respectively, I beg leave to represent, for the informa tion of your Lordship, that the object his Highness has in view in making this (’communica tion, is to ascertain whether he may look to Her Majesty’s Government to guarantee the succession to his sons Khaled and Thoweynee, as it is the intention of his Highness to set aside his eldest son, Syud Hilal, and disinherit him altogether, but in doing which, con siderable difficulty is likely to arise. His Highness’s eldest son, Syud Hilal, being the greatest favourite of the Imam’s Arab subjects ; but who has lately fallen under the displeasure of his father the Imam, he has been deprived of all his confidential followers, and is closely watched by the Imâm. His Highness well knowing the feeling of the people towards him, could not permit him to reside in any part of his dominions where his Highness him self is not present. This prince, Syud Hilal, is the most shrewd and energetic of all the Imam’s sons, and has the good will and sympathy of all his Highness’s Arab subjects; they always say, in talking of him, that he is the model of what his father was. The prince, Syud Khaled, the Imam’s second son, who his Highness wishes to succeed to his African possessions, is unfortunately not esteemed by the Imam’s Arab subjects ; he is penurious and grasping to a degree which will always prevent his being beloved or respected by the Arabs. The prince, Syud Thoweynee, the Imâm’s third son, who his Highness wishes to succeed to his Arabian possessions, is in every way superior to his brother Syud Khaled ; but it is not supposed he could maintain his position in Arabia in opposition to his brother Syud Hilal. [The copy, which is in the handwriting of the late Lieutenant Colonel Hamerton, here ends abruptly.] 0.116. S 3 Appendix, No. 8.

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