VI
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE
“ of domestic slavery in Zanzibar, nor with the bonâ fide transport of slaves from
“ one part of the Sultan’s territory lo another. So long as this traffic shall not
be made a cloak to cover the foreign slave trade, which his Highness is bound
“ by treaty to prevent, and which Her Majesty’s Government are also deter-“
mined to suppress.”
It appears fiom the evidence that the transport of slaves between the island
and coast dominions of the Sultan of Zanzibar has afforded a cover for the foreign
slave trade, as the traders procure at Zanzibar or Kilwa the requisite port clearances
and passes for Lamoo, and thence run northwards, taking their chance of
escaping the British cruisers.
There are no means of ascertaining tlie exact numbers intended for the
foreign market, but different witnesses have estimated the numbers annually needed
to maintain the supply of slave labour in the dominion of Zanzibar, at from 1,700
to 4,000, which would leave at least 16,000 as the number destined for the
foreign slave market. The treaty stipulations and agreements with the Sultans
of Muscat and Zanzibar have been carried into effect by various Acts of Parliament
and Orders in Council, which contain provision for the establishment
of courts of adjudication for the trial of vessels captured as slavers at
Zanzibar.
The carrying out of these measures has been committed to the Political
Agent of the Government of India, who also holds the appointment of British
Consul at Zanzibar, and, in addition to the ordinary duties of a Political Agent
and Consul, is Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court. The expenses of this Establishment
are borne by the Indian Government.
The Government have proposed to enter into a new treaty with the Sultan
of Zanzibar to the following eflect
“ 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 l eception 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 require-“
ments of the inhabitants of those places, to be annually settled by mutual consent
“ between the Sultan and the British Agent, such number to be gradually de-“
creased so as to cease altogether within a certain time.
“ 4. That every vessel engaged in the transport of slaves shall be liable to
capture, 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 pro-“
tection, 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 acquir-“
ing any fresh slaves.
Lastly, “ The treaty shall contain a stipulation providing for the eventual entire
prohibition 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.
It
