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 advantage
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 considerable
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
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