47 
ON SLÀVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA). 
^lekran direct to Zanzibar. Zanzibar is also 
^coming the emporium for the sea-borne trade of 
^adagascar, the Mozambique, the Comoro 
Inlands, and the whole of the East Coast of Africa. 
is now the chief market in the world for the 
®^Pply of ivory, gum, copal, cloves, and cowrees, 
^pd has a rapidly increasing export trade in hides, 
seeds, dyes, &c., whilst sugar and cotton 
promise to figure largely amongst its future 
Exports. The foreign trade of Madagascar has in 
creased with extraordinary rapidity since the 
ports of this island have been opened to commerce. 
is impossible to foresee what may be 
f extent in a few years. As one example 
q this increase, I was informed by the United 
►States Consul at Zanzibar, that during the 
j^orth-west monsoon of 1865, upwards of 60 
bugalows and dhows proceeded from 
^^ozibar to the western ports of Madagascar, to 
oad rice for Kutch and Kattiwar, in consequence 
cf the deficient harvest in those provinces. All fhis 
Valuable trade is at present lost to British mer 
chants, because until there is a postal communica- 
with Zanzibar it is impossible for them to 
pcmpete with the foreigners, who at present have 
\all in their hands, and whose vessels, arriving 
^^hh the latest state of the markets, they are thus 
^^abled to regulate their purchases and sales. 
. early the whole of the local trade of Zanzibar is 
D hands of British-Indian subjects, viz., 
^nians, Khojahs, and Borahs, some of whom are 
Cry wealthy. The American, French, and Uer- 
merchants conduct nearly all their business 
g ^cugh these natives of India, who would how- 
^'"Cr much prefer trading with English merchants, 
® they know that all disputes arising would then 
c settled by the British Consul, and according to 
fi c same law for botli parties. Tlie way in which 
G want of postal communication operates to 
^Gvent any of the trade being carried on by 
p^j^.^chants at Bombay, may be illustrated by the 
du example of what several times occurred 
residence at Zanzibar: — A wealthy 
gr-^'efirm at Bombay chartered a large British 
^ T to proceed from Bombay to Zanzibar to load 
^Jiargofor London; the letter of advice to their 
Zanzibar to purchase a cargo being duly 
^Jit by the mail steamer to Aden. There being 
pestai communication between Aden and Zan- 
the letter does not reach the latter port for 
months. In the meantime, the ship 
*‘ives at Zanzibar;, the agent, having no advice, 
eo cargo ready ; the foreign merchants acting 
Pu agreement existing between them for the 
pj^^P^se of excluding British merchants from any 
p^^^j^T'ation in the trade, run up the price of all 
^h ^ ^^e market 40 per cent., sharing 
'J'l^^^^^er loss there may be amongst each other, 
en after waiting in vain for a cargo, comes 
6^^ eiRurrage, and is finally dis^iatched to Lon- 
ballast, entailing a heavy loss on the 
erers in Bombay, who give up in conse- 
^an^q^ any intention of establishing a trade with 
The expense of establishing a monthly 
chei]^^^^^*^ation between Zanzibar and the Sey- 
tUaii ^ correspondence with the French 
Ãen ^^^^"^ers running between Aden and La 
of M and which call at Port Victoria, Island 
would be inconsiderable. The distance 
^(ontT ^^^z'^ar and the Seychelle Islands is 
BotP miles, almost due east from Zanzibar, 
quç ^^^soons are a fair wind, but there are fre- 
cheii calms, and the navigation on the Sey- 
0 ^^ank is tedious and dangerous for 
sai lins 
vessels, owing to the very strong currents. A 
small steamer would consequently be preferable 
to a sailing vessel. I think that if a regular com 
munication were established with the Seychelles, 
a considerable trade would soon arise ; natives of 
India I’esiding at Zanzibar would be attracted to 
those lovely and salubrious islands, and the ex 
pense of keeping up a small vessel would be in 
part or entirely covered by freight and passage. 
597. You would look to the increase of com 
mercial Intercourse as having considerable effect 
in diminishing the interest which the natives 
have in the slave trade ?—I would ; it is impos 
sible to calculate what the trade of that coast 
might become in a few years if the slave trade 
were once abolished. 
598. In what way does the existence of the 
slave trade prevent the growth of a legitimate 
commercial trade ?—The great export of able- 
bodied labourers from the country, deters free 
labourers from coming to settle at Zanzibar or 
along the coast, because they know that as long 
as the slave trade is going on they are not safe 
for a day, 
599. Were any of the 6,000 you emancipated 
retaken, and sold again as slaves ?—They were 
not interfered with. When I was at JMandavie, 
the principal port of Kutch, where I was staying 
for a considerable time investigating the revenue 
accounts of the port for 60 years, many of those 
men came to me evidently very proud of the 
passes they had received from me. 
600. Seeing that those 6,000 remained un 
touched, why should not free labourers be safe 
from capture ?—Those slaves that I emanci])ated 
Avere all registered at the British Consulate ; 
they were emancipated legally according to the 
law of the land by the Kazi ; they then brought 
their certificate of emancipation to me, and I 
signed it, and affixed the seal of the Consulate 
to it; I registered every particular regarding 
them in a book kept at the Consulate ; most of 
those men afterwards had their certificate of 
emancipation tied round their necks in a silver 
box or Avore it on their arms; and I heard after- 
Avards, from naval officers, of those men being met 
with in many other ports in Mozambique, and on 
the coast of Madagascar. 
601. Was anything done upon that memoran 
dum which you have read ?—The resolution of 
the Government of Bombay Avas that a copy of 
the papers should be forwarded to the Secretary 
of State and the Government of India, Avith a 
recommendation that tenders be invited for the 
conveyance of a monthly mail. 
602. Were tenders inA ited ?—I left Bombay 
shortly afterwards, but I believe nothing has 
been done. 
603. Ko tenders have been invited ?—I neA^er 
heard of any. 
604. Do you suppose that a line could be es 
tablished with a moderate amount of subsidy ?— 
I hav e no doubt it could. Hearing the subject 
naentioned on Monday, I Avent to one of the 
directors of the British India Steam. Navigation 
Company, and he sent me a memorandum this 
morning, showing all the lines Avhich their Com 
pany at present Avork Avith a subsidy from the 
Government, and he says, in a note, that his 
Company are very anxious indeed to tender for a 
line from Aden to Zanzibar, which would form a 
continuation of the communication with the Per 
sian Gulf and the whole of the Avest coast of 
India and Ceylon. 
^ ^ 605. Can 
Maj. Gen. 
C. P. Rigby. 
20 July 
1871.