ON SLAVE TRADE (EAST COAST OF AFRICA). 
141 
punishment. This, as Syud Thoweynee admits, would be a stretch of legitimate au 
thority on our part ; but he maintains that anything short of it will fail ; and, moreover, 
that to render the scheme effectual, British agencies should be established along the coast, 
and British steamers employed there, who should act in concert with the local authorities 
to carry out its provisions. 
62. The foregoing suggestions are not devoid of plausibility, but the policy of adopting 
the arbitrary measures proposed is fairly open to question, especially at the present 
juncture when the idea prevails that the chief of Bahrein has sought the protection of the 
Persian flag, partly with a view of ridding himself and his people of the restriction im 
posed upon him, with regard to the slave trade, by his treaty with the British. 
63. It is obvious, moreover, that foreign European governments would hesitate unless 
their concurrence was first secured, to grant to the ruler of Zanzibar, or to his officials on 
the coast, the authority requisite for effectually carrying out the provisions of this scheme 
towards their subjects, or towards vessels sailing under their flags, and any attempt to 
execute the same, without such concurrence, might lead to serious complications, 
and eventually, perhaps, to measures subversive of the existing native sovereignty. 
Therefore, as at present advised, I deem it prudent to withhold any decided opinion 
on the subject of slavery on the eastern coast of Africa until by personal inquiries 
at Zanzibar, I shall be better able to judge of the feasibility of the foregoing 
and of other suggestions which have been advanced for its suppression. Much, doubtless, 
will depend on the temper of those foreign powers who have commercial and other 
interests in that quarter, and their concurrence is most likely to be enlisted by our pro 
pounding measures, which, whilst conducive to the attainment of the benevolent object 
contemplated by the British Government, will be devoid of every feature calculated to 
wound their national sensibilities. Such a concert secured, the ruler of Zanzibar might, 
without fear of the consequences, carry into execution, within his own territories, the 
recognised prohibitive laws towards any of the subjects of those Eastern States, or chief- 
doms bordering on the Persian Gulf, whose rulers have hitherto declined to co-operate in 
any effectual measures for the suppression of the slave trade. 
64. The importance of the topics discussed will, I trust, be deemed an ample apology 
for the length of the foregoing Report. I conclude by submitting the same to the favour 
able consideration of Government. 
I have, &c, 
(signed) W. M. Coghlan, 
Brigadier. 
In charge Muscat Zanzibar Commission. 
Appendix (A.) 
f Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Humerton, to the Right Honourable the Earl 
of Aberdeen.^ 
My Lord, Zanzibar, 31 July 1844. 
With reference to the communication from his Highness the Imam to your Lordship’s 
address, under date the 23rd instant, relative to his Highness’s intention to appoint his sons 
Syud Khaled and Syud Thoweynee to succeed on the death of his Highness to the government 
of his African and Arabian possessions respectively, I beg leave to represent, for the informa 
tion of your Lordship, that the object his Highness has in view in making this (’communica 
tion, is to ascertain whether he may look to Her Majesty’s Government to guarantee the 
succession to his sons Khaled and Thoweynee, as it is the intention of his Highness to set 
aside his eldest son, Syud Hilal, and disinherit him altogether, but in doing which, con 
siderable difficulty is likely to arise. His Highness’s eldest son, Syud Hilal, being the greatest 
favourite of the Imam’s Arab subjects ; but who has lately fallen under the displeasure of 
his father the Imam, he has been deprived of all his confidential followers, and is closely 
watched by the Imâm. His Highness well knowing the feeling of the people towards 
him, could not permit him to reside in any part of his dominions where his Highness him 
self is not present. This prince, Syud Hilal, is the most shrewd and energetic of all the 
Imam’s sons, and has the good will and sympathy of all his Highness’s Arab subjects; 
they always say, in talking of him, that he is the model of what his father was. 
The prince, Syud Khaled, the Imam’s second son, who his Highness wishes to succeed to 
his African possessions, is unfortunately not esteemed by the Imam’s Arab subjects ; he is 
penurious and grasping to a degree which will always prevent his being beloved or respected 
by the Arabs. 
The prince, Syud Thoweynee, the Imâm’s third son, who his Highness wishes to succeed 
to his Arabian possessions, is in every way superior to his brother Syud Khaled ; but it is 
not supposed he could maintain his position in Arabia in opposition to his brother Syud 
Hilal. 
[The copy, which is in the handwriting of the late Lieutenant Colonel Hamerton, here ends 
abruptly.] 
0.116. S 3 
Appendix, No. 8.