176
APPENDIX TO REPOET FROM SELECT COMMITTEE
Appendix, No. 8,
No. 19, of 1859.
No. 46, of 1859.
No. 46, of 1869.
No. 6.3, of 1859.
No. 53, of 1859.
No. 69, of 1859.
the habit of assisting the treasury of Muscat. Are you aware to what extent, and on what
grounds, the subsidy was paid ?
A. The Customs master, who always acted as treasurer to the late Imam, informs me
that 10,000 crowns were annually sent from Zanzibar to Muscat on account of the tribute
to the Wahabee Ameer ; that this was as fixed payment. Other sums were sent as required;
some years 10,000 crowns, and some years, if hostilities were going on in Oman, considerably
more than this. The late Imam was possessed of large estates in Zanzibar. I think
the treasuries of Zanzibar and Muscat were considered as one, and at the absolute disposal
of the Imam.
Q. 20. (B.)—Will you be cood enough to procure for me a statement of the present
income and expenditure of the Zanzibar state, and the amount, if any, of its outstanding
lialnlities ?
A.—My letter to the Secretary to Government, Bombay, No. 52, of 1860, Secret
Department,* fully answers this and the following question 29. (That query was as
follows:—Government have several times suggested some compromise between” the two
brothers on the basis of the payment of this 40,000 crowns annually to Syud Thoweynee.
Have yi)U ever attempted such a compromise, and with what result ?)
Q. 30. You report that “ any attempt on the part of Syud Thoweynee to usurp the Government
of Zanzibar would give the French an excuse for the occupation of that island.” What
are your grounds for that opinion? Elsewhere you regard the French as being favourable
to Thoweynee’s pretensions.
A. It has been thought for several years past that the French meditated forming
establishments on the east coast of Africa. The letters of Lieutenant Colonel Hamerton
for some years refer to this intention, and show that the late Imam was in constant fear
of French usurpation. From conversations wiih the late French Consul at Zanzibar, I had
ascertained that he was fully aware of the intended invasion from Muscat long before it
was suspected here; and as he told me he sliould support Syud Thoweynee immediately on
his arrival, I formed the opinion that the French had interested motives, and wuuld take
advantage of any opportunity to place the island under the French flag. I considered the
French were favourable to Syud Thovveynee’s pretensions in consequence of some negotiations
which had taken place at Muscat when the French frigate“ La Sybille” visited that
mirt ; also, because Syud Majeed had firmly rejected every proposal made to him by the
French to permit «the export of slaves from his dominions.
Q. 31.—You say that the French Government have had some secret negotiations with
Syud Thoweynee, and will strongly endeavour to have Zanzibar declared a dependency of
M liscat, and then obtain the cession of a port on the African coast from Thoweynee. What
proof have you of this ?
A.—His Highness Syud Majeed one day spoke to me on the subject of his having
addressed two letters to the Emperor of the French, announcing his father’s death and his
own accession, and of his having received no answer. I alluded to the subject one day in
conversation with the French Consul, when he informed me that he believed tiie reason
was, that certain negotiations liad taken place at Muscat between Syud Thoweynee and the
commander of the “ La Sybille,” and that the French Government did not expect Syud
Majeed to retain the government of Zanzibar, and therefore hesiiated to acknowledo-e him.
Afterwards, during a discussion 1 had with the French Commodore Le Vicomte De'Langle
on board the corvette “ La Cordeliere,” the French Consul stated that he had already
received instructions how he was to act in case of Syud Thoweynee visiting Zanzibar. This
proved to me that the French Government was acquainted with Syud Thoweynee’s desi ms.
When Syud Thoweynee’s ship “Caroline” arrived here shortly after, the two principal dermTnds
made by his agent Ahmed bin Salim were the payment of the 40,000 crowns annually, and
the cession to him of the port of Mombasa. I therefore had a strong opinion that the
cession of this port was demanded in order to make it over to the French as a reward for
their support. The aggressive intentions of the French were a frequent topic of conversation
amongst all the mercantile classes here at that time, as it is at present.
Q. 32.—In a letter to Captain Jones you state that you have reported to Government
the strong grounds which you have for believing that Thoweynee is acting under French
influence. What are they, apart from any observations which the French Consul may have
made on the subject?
A.—The French Consul was known to be carrying on a very active correspondence with
Syud Thoweynee. The letters from Muscat to the disaflected”Arabs here were sent under
cover to the French Consul. Syud Barghash was instigated by the French Consul to rebel*
and promised French protection. These were my reasons, coupled with what I have
already stated regarding the visit of the French frigate “ La Sybille” to Muscat.
Q. 33.—The French Consul informed you that his Government had not recognised Syud
Majeed, owing to what had passed between Syud Thoweynee and the commander of the
“ La Sybille.’’ Do you implicitly believe that statement, and have you any good authority
for knowing what passed on that occasion between the two parties?
A.—From subsequent experience, 1 had very little faith in anything the French Consul
said on any subject. He was a Russian-Pole, and before quitting Zanzibar boasted that
his proceedings here had brought him into notice and led to his advancement. I have no
knowledge whatever of what passed on the occasion referred to.
Q. 34.—You believe that Syud Thoweynee asked Syud Majeed to cede to him the port of
Mombasa
For facility of reference, a copy of that letter is attached, marked K.
