ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA).
123
Aniciif” slates tiiat on hearing how she had succeeded in obtaining a cargo of slaves at
Lam00, “ the voung Imam of Muskat sent for the Governor of that place to give an explanation
of the affnir, with which he appeared satisfied, for he returned him to his government
“ in one of his ships of war.’' Can you inform me whether this is a true statement of the
“case, and on what plea the Governor of Lamoo excused himself?
However, it is evident from the foregoing testimonies, that the means hitherto adopted
to suppress this traffic liave signally failed ; and, further, that one great cause of its prevalence
i< attributable to the article in the Treaty of 1645. which legalises the transport of
slaves within certain limits of the late Imam’s African territories.
Under this conviction I am induced to ask your opinion on the expediency of our seeking
a revision of the existing treaty, whereby the present limited immunity should be wholly
abolished, and the transport of slaves between any ports of the late Imam’s territories be
altogether prohibited.
It appears to me that such a 1 iw, coupled with your suggestion that a steam gun-boat of
light draught should be stationed at Zanzibar, for several months in the year, to watch the
coast, would be the most effectual means of suppressing the traffic in that quarter.
Willing as the ruler at Zanzibar might be, at the solicitation of the British Government
to sanction such a revision of the treaty, it is not improbable that the concession might
create serious opposition on the part of his people, and perhaps endanger his authority.
Hence, before making any attempt to bring the suggestion to the notice of Syud Majeed,
I shall await your opinion of its feasibility.
Answer. The prohibition to export slaves to foreign countries from the late Imam’s
African dominions is evaded, as I have already stated, by the whole of the Arab population
being in favour of it, and by the Sultan not; having a single individual in his service who
would shrink from taking bribes to connive at it.
With regard to the Spanish ship “Venus,” which I reported to Government as having
taken 500 slaves from the port ot Lamoo, I was afterwards informed by a Sawahili, by
name Khamers bin Wnttannee, who was agent at Zanzibar (or the Government of Mauritius
before the establishment of the British Consulate, that he was at Lamoo at the time,
and that the number of slaves embarked in the “ Venus ” was 700 ; also that the Governor
of Lamoo, by name Ali bin Nassir, remonstrated against iheir being shipped ; butas the
“Venus” had a strong crew, well armed, the few Belooch soldiers at the disposal of the
Governor were afraid to act. The customs master informs me that Ali bin Nassir was, in
consequence, summoned to Zanzibar to account for his conduct, and that he did not return
to Lamoo, and has since resided at Momb issa, where he is at present.
I consider that the statements of Mr. M‘Leod, late Her Majesty’s consul at Mozambique,
of Dr. Krapf, and of Captain Burton, on tlie authority of the late Colonel Hamerton, relative
to the slave traffic on the Last Coast of Africa, to be substantially correct, Tiie export
of slaves from the port of Kilwa has greatly increased since the date of Dr. Krapf’s visit.
I have long anxiously considered the expediency and possibility of obtaining a revision
of the existing treaties, whereby the transport of slaves between any parts of the late
Imam’s territories should be altogether prohibited. The treaties for its suppression have
been constantly evaded from the time they were made, and they will continue to be so
until the transport from every part of the coast is entirely prohibited. I do not think that
the Arabs of Zanzibar can plead any right to go into the interior of Africa, and steal men
for the purpose of selling them into slavery. The cause of humanity demands that this
atrocious system, which is every year on the increase, and which is rendering vast and
fertile districts of Africa uninhabited w astes, should, if possible, cease. Its aboliiion would
doubtless cause a great deal of ill-feeling on the part of the Zanzibar Arabs, until they
became reconciled to the change, and it would be a very invidious task for the British
Government to undertake alone. If the French and United States Governments could be
induced to co-operate with the British Government in putt ng a stop to the traffic in slaves
on the east coast, as they already have done the West Coast of Africa, it would prove to the
Arabs that the Christian nations are animated with equal sf iiiiments of humanity, and they
would submit to the change as inevitable.
In a Despatch to the address of the late Lieutenant Colonel Hamerton, dated 18th December
1840, Viscount Palmerston gives directions as fbllow< : “ You will take every opportunity
“ of impressing upon these Arabs that the nations of Europe are destined to put an end to
“ the African slave trade, and that Great Britain is the main instrument, in the hands of
“ Providence, for the accomplishment of this purpose; that it is vain for these Arabs to
“ endeavour to resist the consummation of that which is written in the book of fate; and
“ that they ought to bow to superior power, to leave off a pursuit which is doomed to
“ annihilation, and a perseverance in which will only involve them in pecuniary losses, and
“ in various other evils ; and that they should hasten to betake themselves to the cultiva-“
tion of their soil, and to lawful and innocent commerce,”
I think that the abolition of the traffic slumld be enforced on these grounds. Now that
the transpoit of African slaves by sea is prohibited in every country in the world, except
the state of Zanzibar, I see no reason why the Arabs should be permitted to perpetuate a
system which entails such great evils. The recent emancipation of upwards of 5,500 slaves
in the Zanzifar dominions, who v\ere in the possession of British Indian subjects, has
tended very much to shake the faith of the Arabs in the continuation of slavery, and prepared
them to expect its prohibition. When conversing on the subject with Arabs, I have
always told them that 1 do not think the Governments of Europe would permit its continuance,
were the evils and atrocities connected with it more generally known.
0.116. q2 The
Appendix, No. 7.
