ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA). 107 
12. I tliink the cost of a property sufficiently extensive for all purposes, if it were not Appendix, No, 5. 
Purchased in haste, would be so moderate as to lender it needless to concern ourselves 
about free giants from the Government. I am not prepared to point out the exact locality 
most suitable for our purpose, but I think there would be many advantages in fixing it at a 
distance of four or five miles at least from Port Victoria, and that the western side of the 
island may be more suitable that the eastern. 
13. You are aware that two or three cargoes of rescued slaves were discharged at 
Mauri lilis seven or eight years ago, and the children sent to Powder Mills Asylum. A 
very large proportion of them soon died, and many were after cards carried off by the 
epidemic. I think some of the survivors might be seat over here as soon as the mission is 
begun and would be very useful in helping to teadi English to the African children, and 
■in assisting the nev\ missionaries to acquire their resp ctive languages. I will c nfer with 
Ansorge on my return to Mauritius, and ask him to point out any whom he may be able 
to recommend for this service, so as to have them in readiness when they are wanted. 
14. A fact that offers créât promise of success in the endeavour to form the Africans 
into a settled and orderly little community, is that the males and females hitherto brought here 
are about equal. Mr. Vandin has solemnized some lew marriages and baptized several 
infants born in the island. Amongst other happy results to be hoped for, from the labours 
of a missionary amongst them, it may reasonably be expected that their settlement in 
families will become much more geueral than it will be if they are h ft to themselves, like 
“sheep without a shepherd.” 
15. The communication between Seychelles and Zanzibar is at present very uncertain and 
irregular. 
S. Ward, Esq., to the Reverend S. Hobbs. 
(Extract.) 
Seychelles, 22 May 1869. 
2. I'he number of Africans who have been brought here by tier Majesty’s cruisers 
amounts to nearly 2,000, quite sufficient for the local demand for labour. The increase of 
the ^ frican population cannot well be asceitained, as no distinction has been made by the 
civil status between Creoles and Africans. I be latter, once distributed, are classed as 
British subjects, and absorbed into the general popul.ition. But there is no doubt that the 
Africans brought here have increased and multiplied to a very considerable extent. This, 
however, does not affect the (¡uestion in which the society is interested, except so far as 
showing that the climate of these islands is very h althy, and peculiarly well adapted to the 
African constitution. At Zanzibar, the African races do not reproduce themselves at all. 
From what I have heard resj.ecting the East Coast, there appears to be no spot at which 
it would be either desirable or practicable that an establishment for the regeneration and 
education of captured Afiicaus could be set on foot. These islands present every ad 
vantage with respect to proximity, climate, and poaer of control, and should the society 
determine upon trying the experiment here, I think that it would be eminently 
successful. 
3. It is, of course, impossible to give any idea of the number of slaves likely to be 
brought here, but I cannot look forward to any reduction in the amount of captured dhows. 
More have been taken by our cruisers during the past 12 months than in any previous 
year, partly owing to the withdrawal of the whole East African squadron during the 
Abyssinian war, and partly owing to the limited number of ships in the squadron, a quite 
inadequate number for the proper protection of the coast, am! for anything approaching to 
the suppression of the slave trade. On an average four dhows out of five run their cargoes 
successfully, so that, judging by ihe numerous captures, the amount of slaves exported to 
Arabia and Persia must he very large indeed. During the last five months, 451 slaves 
have bei n brought here bv Her Majesty’s ships “Daphne” and “Nymph,” and a con 
siderable quantity have been taken to Aden. 
4. From the southern limits of the “ soi-disant ” Portuguese Settlement, slave trade is 
always carried on to the fullest extent, permission to trade m slaves being always, I am 
given to understand, considered a ¡lart of the salary of a Portuguese official. Most of that 
infamous traffic is now in the hands of the Arabs, and a very considerable trade is earned 
on with Magotte, Nossibe, and Madagascar, in which latter country almost any number of 
slaves can be absorbed. The major portion of these Africans are conveyed in dhows under 
French colours, and carrying French papers issued from Magotte or Nossibe. Our cruisers 
cannot touch these French dhows, although when overhauled they may be found full of 
unmisiakeable slaves. One, with several slaves on board, was boarded by the “ Nymph.” 
The papers were French, given for one year, during which time many trips might be made, 
but no one on board spoke a word of the language, or could read the papers. 
5. The above remarks, however, only refer to the main question of slave trade on the 
East Coast generally, and I have offered them only vvnh a view to show the society that in 
all probability very many more Africans will be brought to these islands, and that any 
0.116. G 2 arrangements 
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