238
VIVIAN.
Report, 1871—continued.
Vivian, The Honourable Crespigny. (Analysis of his Evidence.)—Is senior clerk in charge
of the Slave Trade Department of the Foreign Office, 1, 2 Legality of slavery in
Zanzibar, it being a perfectly recognised institution among Mahomedans, 4-6 Prohibition,
by treaty, of the export of slaves from Africa to foreign countries, though within
certain limits they are allowed to be transported from the coast to the islands for domestic
purposes, 4-7. 44-46 Several treaties with the Imaum of Muscat ; explanation hereon
as to Zanzibar having been separated from Muscat in 1856, each country being now
governed independently, 7. 11, 12.
Nature of the treaties with Persia with respect to the prohibition of the import of
slaves by sea ; inconvenience of the stipulation that there must be a Persian officer on
board a British cruiser when capturing slavers, 8, 9. 155, 156 Doubt whether the
Sultan of Zanzibar lias honestly carried out the treaties, 10. 103 Belief as to the
connivance of the Imaum of Muscat with the slave trade, 10 Statement that all the
mischief is done by the Arabs who come down from the north to Zanzibar, and procure
slaves from the interior as best they can, 10. 17-19. 35. 40, 41. 44. 46.
Great cruelty practised, and great misery endured, during the march of the slaves from
the inteiior lo the coast, 10. 25-27. 35, 36. 140. 159 — Number of British-lndian and
of British subjects in Zanzibar; belief that a considerable trade is likely to arise, 13-16
Constant excess of the coast limits recognised for export for domestic purposes,
20-22 Belief that the export of slaves from the dominions of the Sultan of Zanzibar
is consideiably more than 20,000 a-year; small portion required for domestic labour in
Zanzibar, the rest going to Persia, &.C., 23, 24. 28-34. 37- 4^-Immense
mortality of slaves before arrival at Zanzibar from the interior, 25. 35
Existence of a recognised slave market at Muscat, 33, 34. 42 Calculation that the
Sultan of Zanzibar derives at least 20,000 1. a-year from the tax on slaves; compensation
necessary in order to induce the relinquishment of this revenue, 37. 99-104. 157. 160, 161
Great increase in the value of slaves when brought from the interior to Zanzibar
or the Arabian coast, 38, 39.
Provisions of a new treaty which the Government proposed to make with the late
Sultan of Zanz bar ; steps taken to press the treaty upon tlie present Sultan, but hitherto
without success, 47-51. 118. 136. 150-152——Explanation as to the co-operation of
France in putting down the Zanzibar slave trade, 52. 54-57. 142 Discontinuance of
the slave trade on the Portuguese coast, 53 Difficult duties of the British cruisers as
to slavers; system of bounties on condemnation, 59-65.
Particulars relative to the modes of disposal of the liberated slaves : objection to any
of them being taken to British colonies for employment there, 66-74. 82—90. 112-117
Recommendation by the Committee of which witness was a memljer, that the
liberated slaves should be landed in Zanzibar itself under due precautions; nature of the
protection necessary to be given by Great Bril ai n, 75-78. 85, 86, 112 —Stringent
measures desirable so as to prevent slave hunting by the northern Arabs; importance
also of gradually sealing up the whole of the coast and preventing the transport of slaves
altogether, 79-81. 109-1 ii. 119-124. 141. 146.
Information relative to the functions of the political agent of the Indian Government
at Zanzibar, who is also consul, there being also a vice consul and clerk ; undue expense
10 India in respect of the former, 91-97. 143 Intended prohibition upon the holding
of slaves by British Indians in Zanzibar, 98 Importance of steam communication
with Zanzibar, and of facilities for trade ; effectual check thereby (as at Lagos) to the
slave trade, 105-109. 154.
Explanation as to the difficulties with reference to carrying out the proposals of the
Committee of 1870 , necessity of consuls on the coast, backed up by force, in order to
carry out any prohibitory arrangements effectually, 118. 128-141. 146-154 Absence
of any proposition for the purchase of Zanzibar, though its seizure has been entertained,
125-127 Sfiggestions as to the places on the coast where vice consuls should be
placed, 135-138.
Recent report by Dr. Kirk that the slave trade is being more vigorously carried on
than ever, 139 Belief as to there being much loss of life through slavers being run on
shore when pursued by the cruisers, 148. 162-164 Satisfactory assurances received
from Persia relative to treaty engagements, 165, 166 Willingness of Turkey to act
effectually in the matter, 167 Tax in Muscat on the import of slaves; entire evasion
by the Imaum of the treaty of 1845 ; 168-171 Belief that slaves are not taken from
Zanzibar to Cuba, 172.
[Second Examination.]—Constant slave trade from the southern ports of Zanzibar to
Madagascar; readiness of the Madagascar Government to prevent this if possible, 173-179
Obstacle to the abolition of domestic slavery in Madagascar, 180, 181.
Special instructions issued to the British cruisers on the east coast, 181——Use of the
French flag by many dhows carrying on a legal trade, 182.
Letter from Dr. Kirk in December 1870, adverted to as showing that under the commercial
treaty with Zanzibar in 1839 pressure may be brought to bear for the suppression
of
