169
ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA).
ledge of Arab laws and customs ; and, together with firmness of disposition, should possess No. 8.
a temper calculated to conciliate the natural impetuosity and obstinate puerility of the
Arab character.
68. In addition to the foregoing suggestion, it appears to me desirable that the British
Agent at Muscat should be independent of the Resident in the Persian Gulf, and under
the immediate orders of Government. The greater nearness of Muscat to Bombay is, of
itself, an adequate ground for that arrangement ; and if a duly qualified officer is appointed
to the post, there seems to be no reason whatever why he should be subject to any immediate
control. Moreover, judging from experience of the past, I do not think that the
system hitherto prevailing has worked satisfactorily. The settlements in the Gulf, which
are farmed by the ruler of Muscat from the Persian Government, as also the intimate
relations existing between the tribes dependent on Oman and those more or less under
Persian domination, undoubtedly call for frequent intercommunication between the British
Agent at Muscat and the Resident at Bushire ; but whilst his official independency need
not interfere in any way with the due discharge of those duties, the Agent at Muscat will
be enabled thereby to render more effectual support to British interests, and to exercise a
more powerful influence over the sovereign and people of Oman.
69. The range of topics embraced in the foregoing pages, and the important bearing
which the final decision of the Right Honourable the Governor General on the main subject
discussed will exercise over the future welfare of Arabia and the East Coast of Africa,
must be my apology for the length of this report. I cannot conclude, however, without
gratefully acknowledging the obligation I am under to the Rev. Mr. Badger, my associate
in the Commission. Unaided by his special qualifications, and by the cheerful zeal which
he has applied to his laborious task, I should certainly have failed to unravel some important
points in the case before me, and my report would have been deficient in that accuracy
and completeness which I trust it will now be found to possess. It is not easy for
me to say how much I am indebted for his assistance on this, as well as on other occasions
of importance, which have already been acknowledged by me in various despatches to
your address ; but as this is possibly the last service of its kind which the Rev. Mr. Badger
will have the opportunity of rendering to the Government of India, I indulge the hope
that this accomplished public servant may carry into his retirement a suitable recognition
of the ability for which he is so conspicuous, and the generous zeal which has ever
prompted the application of that ability to the best interests of the State.
I have, &c.
(signed) W. M. Coghlan, Brigadier,
In charge Muscat-Zanzibar Commission.
APPENDICES to Letter No. 17, dated 4th December 1860.
Muscat-Zanzibar Commission.
(Secret Department.— No. 12 of 1860.)
From Brigadier W. M. Coghlan, in charge Muscat-Zanzibar Commission, to Lieutenant
Colonel C. P. Righy, Her Majesty’s Consul and Britisli Agent at Zanzibar.
Muscat-Zanzibar Commission.
Sir, Dated Zanzibar, 1 October 1860.
I have the honour to apprise you of my arrival at Zanzibar, accompanied by the Rev.
Mr. Badger, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Go\ernment of Bombay to institute an
inquiry into the rival claims of their Highnesses Syud Thovveynee and Syud Majeed, which
is to precede the final arbitration of the Right Honourable the Governor General of India.
2. It is perfectly understood that Syud Majeed has accepted that arbitration; nevertheless,
in order to guard against any doubt or misunderstanding which might otherwise arise, hereafter
in a matter of so much importance, it appears to me desirable that his Highness should
engage to abide by the decision of the Governor General in the same formal manner as was
required of his Highness Syud Thoweynee of M uscat. I append a copy of the bond executed
by the latter, and shall feel obliged by your obtaining for me, with as little delay as possible,
an engagement of like import from his Highness Syud Majeed.
3. Being, moreover, most desirous of securing your co-operation in the inquiry entrusted
to me, and also of profiting by your intimate acquaintance with all the transactions which
have transpired between the rival claimants since the death of their father, the late Syud
Saeed, 1 have drawn up the accompanying list of queries (marked A),* begging that, in your
reply.
* As these queries, marked A., and a subsequent list marked B., re-appear in Colonel Rigby’s replies, I
have thought proper to omit them here.
0.116.
Y
