140
APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE
Appendix, No. 8.
^ Letter, No. 46, of
18Õ9.
t Letter, No. 63, of
1859.
t Letter, No. 69, of
1859.
• Slave Trade.
venturing to express any opinion on the foregoing statement, I have deemed it my duty to
report it, and in Appendix (H.) have given a translation of the vizier’s letter above referred
to.
56. I come lastly to the numerous charges made against Syud Thoweynee of acting
under French influence. Colonel Eighy* “believes that the French Government have
“ had some secret negotiations with Syud Thoweynee, and will strongly endeavour to
“ have Zanzibar declared a dependency of Muscat, and then obtain the cession of a port
“ on the African coast, within the dominions of Zanzibar, from Syud Thoweynee.”
Again, he writes :t “ I have strong grounds for believing that Syud Thoweynee is
“ acting entirely under French instigation for the furtherance of their aggressive designs
“ on the Zanzibar dominions.” And again :i “I have a strong impression that Syud
“ Thoweynee’s only object in wishing to obtain possession of the port of Mombasa, is to
“ make it over to the French in some form.” Lieutenant Chester also, late British agent
at Muscat, in a letter to Government (copy of which was supplied to Mr. Eassam) reports
the circumstance of the Viscomte Fleuriot de Langle, commodore commanding the corvette
“ Cordeliere,” having had several private interviews with his Highness Syud Thoweynee,
and notices the suspicious rumour of a paper which had been submitted to him by the
Commodore, having been secretly signed by the former.
57. To all the foregoing motives attributed to him in his occasional relations with the
French, Syud Thoweynee gives the most solemn denial ; and he further denies that any
proposition was ever made to him by them for the cession or occupation on any part of
the territories either of Muscat or Zanzibar. His correspondence with the French
Government, he avers, has been confined to announcing the death of his father, Sytid
Saeed, and the very few letters which have passed between himself and the French Consul
at Zanzibar, have been letters of official courtesy, and nothing more. In proof of this, he
submitted to me the originals of three letters from the last-named official, copies of which
I have annexed in Appendix I.
58. The origin of the rumour connected with the paper said to have been submitted for
his signature, he explains as follows : The paper, he said, was drawn up either by Syud
Majeed, or at his dictation. It set forth Syud Majeed’s view of the agreement respecting
the 40,000 dollars, and how he had intended that it should be divided, precisely as had
been represented by him to the British Government.” “ After reading this paper,” said
Syud Thoweynee, “ the Commodore offered to mediate between me and my brother.
“To which I replied that the British Government had already tendered their good offices
“ in that respect which I had accepted. That the case was still in their hands, where I
“ was satisfied to leave it; but if they should hereafter decline to proceed in the matter,
“ I might then avail myself of his (the Commodore’s) offer.”
Slave Trade.
59. Having thus noticed the principal charges alleged against Syud Thoweynee, and
his vindication of himself from the same, I pass on to the subject of slavery, respectinowhich
Government had directed me to institute such inquiries as might be suo-o-estive of
some more effectual means for its suppression.
60. Circumstanced as Syud Thoweynee is at present, an expectant of the favour of
the British Government through the final arbitration of the Governor General of India,
his professions of readiness to co-operate heartily in this cause must be received with
caution, though for the same reason his suggestions may be the more worthy of attention.
His idea is that the traffic will continue to flourish, in spite of every attempt made to
arrest it, unless the limitations within which it is still lawful to prosecute it, are removed.
By the terms of the last treaty with the late Imam of Muscat, “ such as are engaged in the
“ transport of slaves from one port to another of his own dominions in Africa, between
“ the port of Lamoo to the north and its dependencies, the northern limit of which is the
“ north point of Kaghoo Island in 1“ 57' south latitude, and the point of Keelwa on the
“ south, and its dependencies, the southern limit of which is Longa M un ara or Pagoda
“ Point in 9° 2' south latitude, including the islands of Zanzibar, Penibea, and Menfea,”
are exempted from all restriction. Here is a line of coast, 420 miles in extent, within
which the transport of slaves may still be carried on with impunity, and affording many
facilities for the transport to be converted into traffic. Moreover, as far as my knowledo-e
extends, these are the principal limits within which the slave trade is prosecuted on the
eastern coast of Africa.
61. Syud Thoweynee’s idea, therefore, that these facilities for evading the
provisions of existing treaties should be removed, seems deserving of consideration.
He believes that, backed by the influence of the British Government,
the ruler of Zanzibar might be equal to the ^ task of carrying into effect a law
which should,prohibit his subjects from transporting slaves from one point to another
of his dominions. That effected, the next point would be for the British Government to
intimate to the independent maritime chiefs of Arabia, including those bordering on the
southern shores of the Persian Gulf, that they were determined to suppress altogether
the purchase and sale of human beings on the coast of Africa ; and that, therefore, any of
their vessels or subjects found engaged in such traffic should be subject to seizure and
punishment.
