Captain
P. Colomb
R. N.
25 July
1871,
o4 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKE
secured only one port 'of embarkation for all
^ sla\cs ui the Sultan of Zanzibar's dominions,
would not that very much facilitate the suppression
of the slave trade?—1 should think it
would.
128o. Lord F. Ccwenclish.~\ Do all dhows importing
slaves into Arabia and Persia pass the
point you mention. Ras el Iladd ?—Yes.
1286. You think a tolerably strong fleet, stationed
oif that point, would absolutely stop the
import into Arabia and Persia?—At first they
would ; then as it became known that the ships
were stationed there it is not impossible that
the slaves might be landed further down the
coast.
1287^ Are there ports where they could be
landed ?—They would be landed on the beach ;
but there is a considerable difficulty about that,
because theie is nothing like settled Grovernment
on that part of the coast, and I think the number
so landed would be small.
1288. Of course if the trade were absolutely
stopped, if it were known to the Northern Arab
that all the slaves were certain to be seized, the
trade would soon come to an end, because it w-ould
not pay ; therefore though for a time the slaves
might have to undergo the suffering caused by
the 40 days’ passage, yet it would diminish the
suffering, on the whole ?—You would have fewer
slaves, but the trade might still remain brisk, because
the demand remaining the same in Arabia,
as you diminished the supply the price would
rise.
1289. If they could not pass Ras el Hadd,
where could they be landed ?—You are fighting
a sort of battle with people who have great in°
terests at stake, and it is quite possible that they
might find some means, after a little time, of
evading you.
1290. Do you imagine that the ruler of Muscat^could
put an end to this trade if he wished ?
—So far as 1 know, and so far as I have heard,
he is in the hands of his great men, and he cannot
do very much.
1291. If we made it his interest to stop it
could he do it ?—I should think so.
1292. Mr. Shaio Lefevre.~\ Are there many
points where slaves could be landed along the coast
of Arabia, or are they generally landed at one or
two special points ?—Nearly all the slaves are
landed inside Ras el Hadd, and further up on the
Arabian coast inside the Gulf.
1293. Supposing a slaver is pursued near the
coast, could it land at any point and deposit its
slaves ?—If the slave vessel is between the ship,
or the boat and the coast, the slave vessel will
always land her slaves on the beach.
1294. Could the slaves be forwarded on to
the port of destination from there ?—Yes.
1295. There would be no difficulty in that ?—
There would be a difficulty, but it could be
done.
1296. And is done ?—Yes.
1297. So that in fact the whole coast is open to
the dhows in that way ?—No, it is not, because of
the unsettled state of the country ; if they landed
their slaves further down the coast than somewheie
CiOse to Ras el Hadd, they w ould never be
certain that their cargo wmuld not be captured
from them after it w as landed.
1298. AYhat is the extent of coast upon which
they could land their slaves with safety ?—
Probably, 20 miles.
1299. It would only be necessary to watch
r BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE
closely those 20 miles?—You wmiild spread a
larger circle to seaward than that, but the close
watching of the coast wmuld extend over that
area.
1300. Are any slaves landed at Mokullah or
Shera ?—I think very few ; there are no signs of
slaving going on there of late, so far as our%hip9
knew.
1301. Mr. KinnairdJ] Have you any reason
to think that any slaves are shipped to Cuba ?—-No.
1302. Mr. J. Tulbot.~^ Are you acnuainted
with Zanzibar itself ?—Yes.
1303. IVhat is your opinion as to the healthiness
of Zanzibar ?—I think it is very healthy.
1304. Do you think that occupation is to be
found there for liberated slaves ?—I think there
would be if Zanzibar belonged to the EnMish.
1305. If its caijabilities were properly developed
?—Yes ; but I think that as things stand
at present, liberated slaves there would simply be
slaves under another name.
. 1306. Do you agree wdth a former wdtness that
it would be very desirable if some place could be
provided under the jirotection of the British flag,
at which liberated slaves could be received prior
to_ their being absorbed in free labour?—Certainly.
1307. T ou think that would be a very good
wmy of providing for the gradual suppressimi of
the ti acie ? Yes, I think that would be very
desirable.
1308. Mr. Fötaler.1 Did you find your health
suffer in your service on the coast?—Considerably;
chiefly because it is very arduous work
when you are actively engaged in the suppression
of the trade. You have to chase vessels, and
board them at the rate, perhaps, of 10, 12, 14, or
20 per day ; you are obliged to be perpetually
in the sun, and perpetually on the strain, and it
tells upon you after a few weeks of it.
1309. It was on that ground you expressed
the opinion that three years was long enough for
any officer to remain on the station ?—Spelikinoof
the station generally, I think three years i1
enough.
1310. Sir J. Hay.~\ Is there anything further
which you wmuld wish to state to the Committee?
—I should like to mention that there is a trade
to Madagascar which is still in a more or less
flourishing state ; though we have suppressed it
to a considerable extent by the treaty with Madagascar,
there is still a regular trade from the
southern part of A trica, a trade which does not
pass through Zanzibar at all.
1311. In the Portuguese territory? Yes,
south of it.
1312. South of Cape Delgado?—Yes.
1313. Commander De Kantzow says, in a
letter dated 1st October 1869, in Blue Book B.
for 1871 : '' The whole coast has been searched
by our ship and boats without observiim a slave
dhow, and it is but fair to add, without a sio-n of
slave-trading”; do you concur in that statement
?—That might be true, and yet the slavetrading
might he going on, because, at the same
time at Madagascar, the current report was that
there were slaves in the interior waiting the departure
of our ships to be sent over, and Captain
de^ Kantzow mentions rumours of slave ships
being heard of south of his station.
1314. You do not think the Portuo'uese
Government has entirely suppressed the 'slave
trade on their portion of Southern Africa?—We
know
