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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176 APPENDIX TO REPOET FROM SELECT COMMITTEE Appendix, No. 8, No. 19, of 1859. No. 46, of 1859. No. 46, of 1869. No. 6.3, of 1859. No. 53, of 1859. No. 69, of 1859. the habit of assisting the treasury of Muscat. Are you aware to what extent, and on what grounds, the subsidy was paid ? A. The Customs master, who always acted as treasurer to the late Imam, informs me that 10,000 crowns were annually sent from Zanzibar to Muscat on account of the tribute to the Wahabee Ameer ; that this was as fixed payment. Other sums were sent as required; some years 10,000 crowns, and some years, if hostilities were going on in Oman, consider ably more than this. The late Imam was possessed of large estates in Zanzibar. I think the treasuries of Zanzibar and Muscat were considered as one, and at the absolute disposal of the Imam. Q. 20. (B.)—Will you be cood enough to procure for me a statement of the present income and expenditure of the Zanzibar state, and the amount, if any, of its outstanding lialnlities ? A.—My letter to the Secretary to Government, Bombay, No. 52, of 1860, Secret Department,* fully answers this and the following question 29. (That query was as follows:—Government have several times suggested some compromise between” the two brothers on the basis of the payment of this 40,000 crowns annually to Syud Thoweynee. Have yi)U ever attempted such a compromise, and with what result ?) Q. 30. You report that “ any attempt on the part of Syud Thoweynee to usurp the Govern ment of Zanzibar would give the French an excuse for the occupation of that island.” What are your grounds for that opinion? Elsewhere you regard the French as being favourable to Thoweynee’s pretensions. A. It has been thought for several years past that the French meditated forming establishments on the east coast of Africa. The letters of Lieutenant Colonel Hamerton for some years refer to this intention, and show that the late Imam was in constant fear of French usurpation. From conversations wiih the late French Consul at Zanzibar, I had ascertained that he was fully aware of the intended invasion from Muscat long before it was suspected here; and as he told me he sliould support Syud Thoweynee immediately on his arrival, I formed the opinion that the French had interested motives, and wuuld take advantage of any opportunity to place the island under the French flag. I considered the French were favourable to Syud Thovveynee’s pretensions in consequence of some negotia tions which had taken place at Muscat when the French frigate“ La Sybille” visited that mirt ; also, because Syud Majeed had firmly rejected every proposal made to him by the French to permit «the export of slaves from his dominions. Q. 31.—You say that the French Government have had some secret negotiations with Syud Thoweynee, and will strongly endeavour to have Zanzibar declared a dependency of M liscat, and then obtain the cession of a port on the African coast from Thoweynee. What proof have you of this ? A.—His Highness Syud Majeed one day spoke to me on the subject of his having addressed two letters to the Emperor of the French, announcing his father’s death and his own accession, and of his having received no answer. I alluded to the subject one day in conversation with the French Consul, when he informed me that he believed tiie reason was, that certain negotiations liad taken place at Muscat between Syud Thoweynee and the commander of the “ La Sybille,” and that the French Government did not expect Syud Majeed to retain the government of Zanzibar, and therefore hesiiated to acknowledo-e him. Afterwards, during a discussion 1 had with the French Commodore Le Vicomte De'Langle on board the corvette “ La Cordeliere,” the French Consul stated that he had already received instructions how he was to act in case of Syud Thoweynee visiting Zanzibar. This proved to me that the French Government was acquainted with Syud Thoweynee’s desi ms. When Syud Thoweynee’s ship “Caroline” arrived here shortly after, the two principal dermTnds made by his agent Ahmed bin Salim were the payment of the 40,000 crowns annually, and the cession to him of the port of Mombasa. I therefore had a strong opinion that the cession of this port was demanded in order to make it over to the French as a reward for their support. The aggressive intentions of the French were a frequent topic of conversa tion amongst all the mercantile classes here at that time, as it is at present. Q. 32.—In a letter to Captain Jones you state that you have reported to Government the strong grounds which you have for believing that Thoweynee is acting under French influence. What are they, apart from any observations which the French Consul may have made on the subject? A.—The French Consul was known to be carrying on a very active correspondence with Syud Thoweynee. The letters from Muscat to the disaflected”Arabs here were sent under cover to the French Consul. Syud Barghash was instigated by the French Consul to rebel* and promised French protection. These were my reasons, coupled with what I have already stated regarding the visit of the French frigate “ La Sybille” to Muscat. Q. 33.—The French Consul informed you that his Government had not recognised Syud Majeed, owing to what had passed between Syud Thoweynee and the commander of the “ La Sybille.’’ Do you implicitly believe that statement, and have you any good authority for knowing what passed on that occasion between the two parties? A.—From subsequent experience, 1 had very little faith in anything the French Consul said on any subject. He was a Russian-Pole, and before quitting Zanzibar boasted that his proceedings here had brought him into notice and led to his advancement. I have no knowledge whatever of what passed on the occasion referred to. Q. 34.—You believe that Syud Thoweynee asked Syud Majeed to cede to him the port of Mombasa For facility of reference, a copy of that letter is attached, marked K.

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