ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA'). 93
all such jurisdiction as ordinarily belongs to Vice Admiralty Courts in Her Majesty’s
possessions abroad in regard to vessels captured on suspicion of being engaged in or
equipped for the slave trade, in the following cases :—
“ 1. Where a Zanzibar vessel shall have been captured in pursuance of any
treaty with the Sultan of Zanzibar, either within or beyond the dominions of
Zanzibar.
(( 2. Where the vessel captured shall not be entitled to claim the protection of
the flag of any State or Nation.”
Officers will therefore observe that—
1. All vessels captured in Zanzibar dominions are to be taken for adjudication to
Zanzibar.
2. All Zanzibar vessels, wheresoever captured, and all vessels, wheresoever captured,
which shall not be entitled to claim the protection of the flag of any State or
Nation, are to be sent for adjudication to Zanzibar, if that be the nearest or most
accessible port at which a British Admiralty or Vice Admiralty Court is established.
In cases where the vessel is run on shore and wrecked, or is destroyed as unseaworthy,
the same port of adjudication is— excepting in very special circumstances — to be resorted
to for procuring the decree of Court, as that to which the vessel ought to have been sent
if in a seaworthy condition when captured. More especially is this to be observed where
persons are found on board the vessel.
5.—As to Persons and Pioperty found on Board the Vessel.
Articles 66, 67, 77, 78.
These Articles prescribe that wherever practicable all persons and things found on
board the vessel shall be sent, with as little delay as possible, to the port of adjudication,
and, if possible, in the vessel herself.
Nothing short of necessity will justify any officer in landing any such persons on the
coast, at random, near the place of capture, or in taking them to any port other than the
port of adjudication.
Their Lordships regret to be obliged to remind naval officers of this simple duty, so
clearly imposed upon them, and to have to state that the purpose of taking the captured
vessel to the proper port of adjudication is not to procure, as a matter of form, a decree of
condemnation, but to obtain a full and fair trial of the case ; at which trial those concerned
in the property may have all reasonable facilities to defend their interest.
6.—As to Reporting Captures.
Articles 48, 49.
Officers commanding Her Majesty’s ships are required by these Articles to furnish a
detailed report of every capture, and especially of any circumstances which may have
induced them to depart from the appointed course of conduct.
In conclusion, their Lordships are most anxious to assist and protect officers in the
right performance of their duties in suppressing the slave trade, but they must warn all
such officers that if they transgress the instructions on this subject they will fall under
their Lordships’ serious displeasure, and that they will also be liable to be called upon to
pay heavy costs and damages.
By command of their Lordships,
Appendix,
(signed)
V. Lushivgton.
