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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XVI PEOCEEDINGS or TUE SELECT COMMITTEE ‘^^21. The Government have proposed to enter into a new treaty with the Sultan of Zanzibar to the following effect :— ‘‘ ^ 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 reception 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 requirements of the inha- ‘ bit ants of those places, to be annually settled by mutual consent between the Sultan ‘ and the British agent, such number to be gradually decreased so as to cease altogether ‘ within a certain time. ° “ ‘ 4. That every vessel engaged in the transport of slaves shall be liable to eapture, 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 protection, ‘ 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 acquiring any fresh ‘ slaves. . ‘‘ ‘ Lastly. The treaty shall contain a stipulation providing for the eventual entire pro- ‘ hibition 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. “ 22. It has been stated to the Committee that for the performance of the additional duties which would devovle upon the Consul, should the proposed treaty be carried into effect, some increase in the present small staff would be required, and it was recom mended by witnesses that an officer be appointed at Zanzibar to assist the Consul and Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court in all matters connected with the slave trade, with the title of Assistant Political Agent and Vice Consul at Zanzibar, and to act for him in his absence ; that a Consular Officer should also be appointed at Dar Selam, under the superintendence of Her Majesty's Consul, to whom he should report upon all matters connected with the slave trade, the number of slaves exported, and whether the Sultan’s engagements with Her Majesty’s Government are strictly observed. This officer would be required to visit, from time to time, the various points on the coast, and to report whether any irregularities exist, or any illegal exports are carried on ; and as it is probable that for some time the slave traders would attempt to continue the exportation of slaves from Kilwa, the distance of which from Zanzibar and Dar Selam would prevent the British authorities at those places from watching and checking such practices, it might be necessary, at first, to station a Consular Officer at that port also. “ 23. It was also stated to the Committee that this proposal was concurred in by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for India in Council, who recommended that, as the duties of the agency and consulate at Zanzibar were of a twofold character—one part concerning the Indian, and the other the Imperial Govern ment—that the cost of maintenance should be equally divided between the Imperial and Indian Governments. “ 24. This proposal was negatived by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and it was stated in evidence that, in consequence of this refusal and of the representation of the Indian Government, Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for India in Council had in formed the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the Foreign Office would no longer be privileged to send any instructions to the Zanzibar agent ; and the whole matter, therefore, was brought to a dead-lock, and the traffic in slaves was on the 31st of May 1871, as reported by the Admiral commanding in chief on the station to be, “without doubt, as busy and profitable as ever.” “ 25. The principal means used to check the trade have been the employment of some vessels of Her Majesty’s Navy upon the East Indian station as cruisers to watch the East African coast during the slaving season, which, depending upon the monsoon, is from April to the end of June, and from September to the beginning of November. It was stated in evidence that during the years 1867, 1868, 1869, there were captured by the squadron 116 dhows, containing 2,645 slaves; while, according to the returns of slaves

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