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 Settlement
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 immunity
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 residence
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 settlements,
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,
