ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA).
187
annulled what Mahomed bin Salem had done ; made war on Toorkee, then prepared to
attack me ; ^ent Hamcd bin Salem to do all the mischief whic!) has already been described;
instigated Barghash to oppose me, and stirred up the El-Harth to do the same, and to
create rebellion in the town Owing to all this I have been obliged to spend large sums of
money, and have contracted a debt of 327,000 crowns to the Custon¡s Master, and another
of 700,000 crowns to my orphan brothers and sisttrs Had it not been for Thoweynee, I
should not have been subject to such expenditure and loss; but wlien he prepared no
to attack us, and instigated others to do the same, we were obliged to spend so much money.
16. Further, I have also to complain of fhoweynee that he has not divided with me what
was left by our father in Oman; whereas I divided with him all that was left at Zanzibar
He has divided neither the property, nor the money, nor the horses, the gardens, the furniture
nor the ships, and as if that did not suffice, he actually seized the 11,000 crowns for which
my ship the “ JNazree ” was sold [at Must at].
17. Finally, I have to apprise your exalted Excellency that those commissioned by you
have had some conversation with me about curtailing the limits within which it is still
lawful to transpoit slaves, and also about abolishing the transport altogether, and whether
any aid would be required thereto. I replied that 1 would never oppose the wishes of the
high [British] Government; nevertheless your Lordsliip is not ignorant of the condition of
these countries, and you are doubtless aware that the prosperity of the subjects of these
territoiits is derived chiefly from ploughing and sowing, and that such prosperity r an not be
maintained here without slaves ; but your opinion is best.
Correct. Written by the unwortliy Majeed with his own hand.
28th Rabia-el-Awwal 1277.
(True Translation.)
(signed) G. P. Badger.
W, M. Coghlan, Brigadier,
in charge Muscat-Zanzibar Commission.
Appendix (M.)
Translation of an Arabic Letter addressed to Brigadier Coghlan by Syud Toorhee
of Sohar.
From Syud Toorkee bin Saeed bin Sultan, to Brigadier W. M. Coghlan.
A. C.—Your honoured letter has arrived, and has delighted and eased our mind, inasmuch
as you have shown your fritndly compassion towards us, and are not willing to scorn our
rights. We entertain great joy in your counsel, which has removed our sadness. We
rely upon you because you have come to this country to put it into order, peace, and concord.
This is the system of the noble-minded and generous.
In sending you a reply, we find it advisable to entrust the matter to you, and whatever
you decide upon we shall not disobey the judgment of the [British] Government, which
has, by its equity and justice, exhibited marvellous wisdom.
Whatever you deem beneficial to us, we shall be guided by your opinion, and will follow
your injunctions.
Regarding what you have heard about us, it is without foundation. Our desire is prosperity
and the general good. We have more compassion for these parts than any other,
and we are anxious for their welfare.
We beg you to have confidence in what we have said. We approve of your appointment,
and whatever you order we will obey. ,
2nd Dhu Alliija, 1276 (22 June 1860).
( I rue Translation.)
(signed) H. Russam.
Resolution by the Honourable Board, dated the 4th February 1861.
Resolved,
During the lifetime of Syud Saeed, Imam of Muscat and Sultan of Zanzibar, that
sovereign appointed his son Syud Thoweynee to be Viceroy of Muscat, and his son Syud
Majeed to be Viceroy of Zanzibar and the African Dependencies. On his death, in 1855,
each son assumed in his own person the government which he had formerly administered
as his father’s lieutenant. Syud Thoweynee subsequently put forward a claim to the
sovereignty of Zanzibar in addition to that of Muscat, and was prepared to assert it by
0.116. A A 2 force
Appendix, No. 8.
Appendix (M.)
