112 
APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE 
Appendix, No. /. 
Appendix, No. 7. [pAPERg RELATING TO THE SLAVE TRADE ON THE EAST COAST 
OF AFRICA. 
Slave trade in the 
Portuguese Settle 
ment of East Africa. 
(Secret Department.—No. 14 of 1860.) 
Muscat-Zanzibar Commission. 
From Brigadier W M. Coghlan, in charge, Muscat Zanzibar Commission, to H. L. Anderson, 
Bsquire, Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay; dated Aden, 1 November 1860. ^ 
Sir, 
directed by Government to avail myself of the opportunities which 
w'ould be afforded me, while in charge of the Muscat Zanzibar Commission, to inquire 
into the actual state of the slave trade on the East Coast of Africa, and it possible to 
suggest some more effectual means for its extirpation than those now in force, Í have 
the honour to submit, for the information of the Honourable the Governor in Council 
the hdlowing general report on the subject, comprising therein the result of my recent 
inquiries at Afuscat, and of those lately instituted at Zanzibar. 
2. Whether owing to a falling off in the supply of slaves on the West Coast of Africa, 
or to the vigilance cf Her Majesty’s cruisers on that station, or to the comparative immu 
nity with which It has been found that the traffic can be pursued on the opposite side of 
the continent, it is unquestionable that the exporiation of slaves from the Portug-uese 
territories on the East Coast of Africa has greatly increased within the last few years. 
(Í According to an extract pub'ished in the ^‘Anti-Slavery Reporter (Supplement). 
1 July 1859,’ the senior naval officer on that station had reported that, “ he has reason 
“ to believe no slaver has been fitted out on the East Coast, or taken away slaves round the 
“ (^pe of Good H(ipe for the last three years.” Such an assurance of the extinction of the 
traffic, if coriectly quoted, may have justified a less watchful surveillance. I am not able 
to state that any such relaxation has actually occurred ; but I believe that until within the 
last three months no slaver has been captured on the East Coast of Africa for the last six 
yeais, aiid the impression has become general that the traffic on this side may be carried on 
with perfect safety. An American merchant, who had resided long at Zanzibar, published 
his opinion to that effect in one of the United States journals; and the captain of the 
Spanish slaver, captured two months ago by Her Majesty’s ship “ Lyra,” off the Island of 
Montea, stated th.at he had received the strongest assurance of there bein^ no British 
cruisers stationed on the Bast Coast of Africa to interfere with his proceedingsT 
4. The officird reports of Mr. M'Leod, late British Consul, will have apprised Her Maiestv'a 
Government of the extent to which the slave trade was being prosecuted between the 
Portuguese settlements on that coast and different ports of Soutli America during his resi 
dence at Mozambique, and also of a similar traffic, which under the title of French Fr^e 
Labour Emigration” was being carried on simultaneously between those settlements and 
La Reunion. 
5. The information since obtained by Colonel Rigby, Her Majesty’s Consul at Zanzibar, 
fully conoboiates Mr. M‘Leod s statements. In September, of last year, he reported that 
“ an extensive trade was being carried on at Eboo, situated on the East Coast of Africa 
within the Portuguese territories, in about 12° south latitude, with the full knowledge of 
“ the Portuguese authorities at that port,” And in proof thereof he adduces the fact of at 
least four large vessels being engaged at the time in embarking cargoes of slaves from that 
vicinity. 
6. As further evidence bearing on the same point, I may adduce the capture of two large 
dippei-built vessels, under bpanish colours, within the last four months; one taken by Her 
Majesty s sliip Brisk, in the Mozambique Channel, with 864 slaves on board, obtained 
froni the Portuguese territories, and the other (already referred to), cantured bv Her 
Majesty’s ship “ Lyra,” fully fitted out and provisioned as a slaver. In all probabilHv this 
vessel, having found some difficulty in securing a ready cargo within the Portuouese settle 
ments, had come up as high as the Island of Mon fea, confident of obtaining as many slavers 
as were required from the African territories dependent on Zanzibar. ^ 
'8, owing to the absence of any British agents on the coast, to secure 
accurate information of the lull extent to which this nefarious traffic prevails within the 
n«vri settlements, the foregoing facts are sufficient to prove that it has long been 
fpw vp«.r' emboldened by impunity, its agents have within the last 
few yeais gieatly increased their slave transactions in those parts. 
8. Further,