'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎46r] (31/72)

Inclosure in No. 37.
Mr. Churchill to the Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Sir, Zanzibar, November 28, 1868.
THE state of my health had so much declined towards October, which is about the
most trying part of the year at Zanzibar, that I was constrained to leave Dr. Kirk in
charge of the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , and proceed to sea on board Her Majesty's ship " Star,"
commanded by Captain De Kantzow, whose instructions were to proceed to Aden,
touching at the ports on the African coast lying to the north of Zanzibar. By accepting
the kind invitation of Captain De Kantzow to proceed to Aden with him, I thus had an
opportunity of visiting the various seaport towns on the coast.
I accordingly left Zanzibar on the 27th October, and after touching at Manbassa and
Lamo, we reached Brava on the 4th November; there we came in with Her Majesty's ship
Cf Daphne," engaged in catching slavers. She had already taken fifteen dhows, and
succeeded in getting 320 slaves. As the " Daphne " proposed to proceed immediately to
Aden, while Captain De Kantzow w T as to remain at Brava a few davs, I passed into the
u Daphne."
In the parallel of Madgeesha, the wind having unfortunately failed us and the ship
having a very small quantity of coal left, we had to make our best way back to Zanzibar,
which we reached on the 25th instant.
I am happy to report that my health has so far improved by this short trip out at
sea that I now feel well enough to resume the duties of ray office.
On my arrival at Zanzibar I found the French frigate " Armorique" in the harbour,
with the Commander-in-chief of the station, Commodore Gisolme, on board.
When I called on him, this officer volunteered to inform me, in the course of conver
sation, that he had spoken very firmly to the Sultan of Zanzibar with reference to the
affairs of Mohilla and to His Highness' policy relative thereto; he further observed that
he trusted His Highness would not be induced, on any account, to allow Jumbi Fatama,
the ex-Queen of that small island, to return to Mohilla' in one of His Highness' ships. I
was likewise informed that, in the opinion of the French Government, the ex-Queen had
acted' unwisely in rejecting the good advice given her in Paris, and it was hinted that this
lady's pertinacity was, perhaps, due to a notion that she could count upon the support of
Her Majesty's Government.
I told Commodore Gisolme, in reply, that the letters I had received did not lead me
to infer that any interference on the part of the British GGvernment in the affairs of
Mohilla was contemplated, and I assured him that the Sultan should receive no advice
from me tending to curtail the action of the French Government in these affairs; but I
added that if the ex-Queen returned to Zanzibar she might prove a heavy burthen on
Seyd Majid, if His Highness could not send her back to Mohilla in one of his own ships.
Commodore Gisolme's reply was to the effect that the least semblance of support gave
rise to a hostile bearing in Mohilla towards France, and as an illustration of this assertion
he stated that for a whole week after the " Daphne " visited the island the Mohilla people
kept away from Mr, Lambert.
The policy of the French Government appears to be to maintain the integrity of the
Lambert contract, and to oppose the ex-Queen so long as she remains hostile to French
interests. To this end three French men-of-war have been told off to cruize about in the
waters of Mohilla, and the Commander-in-chief proposes to establish his head-quarters at
present at Mahe. it seems somewhat surprising that so great a force should be displayed
for the accomplishment of so small a purpose, and it remains to be seen if some other
object, connected perhaps with Madagascar, is not at the bottom of it all.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HY. A. CHURCHILL.
No. 38.
Mr. Churchill to Lord Stanley.—(Received February 25, ISGQ.')
(No. 47.) V ;
My Lord, Zanzibar, December \S, 1868.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a copy of my despatch No. 237 of the 12th December,
addressed to the Honourable C. Gonne, Secretary to Government, Bombay, relative to