'File 35/85 I A 8. Muscat: French Flag Question' [‎201v] (409/512)

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nearest port at which there was a French Consular authority, for the purpose of being adjudicated
on by him, the encourasrement—the unlawful encouragement—that is at present accorded to tne
Slave Traffic by the carelessness or insouciance of the French local authorities would entirely cease,
I would add, in conclusion, that, at my request, His Highness the Sultan dispatched a speoial
official to Femba, accompanied by the interpreter and witnesses of Her Majesty s ship (jrirt'on,
to endeavour to recover tbe slaves landed and sold by the Arabs in the French dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , and to
capture tbe guilty parties. The transaction having been so very public, I am in hopes that the
measures thus taken may have some good results.
Trusting that my action may meet with Your Lordship's approval.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) C. B. EUAN-SMITH.
Inclosure No. 5, -V
Bear-Admiral Fremantle to Colonel Euan-Smith.
Sir, " Boadicea" at Zanzibar, September 4*, 1888.
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a copy of a Report made to me by Commander
John E. Blaxland, commanding Her Majesty's ship "Griffon," of the landing of seventy-five
slaves from a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. flying French colours, for such action as you may think advisable, observing
that, if the statement made therein is correct, a public sale was held of the slaves landed at a place
called Tongoni in the Island of Pemba.
3. It is also stated that the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. was at this port on the 28th ultimo, which, no doubt, you will
bring to the notice of the French Consular authorities.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E. R. FREMANTLE.
Inclosure No. 6.
Dr. Michahelles to M. Lacau.
(Translation.)
Zanzibar, September Vi, 1888.
According to information which has reached the German East African Company from its officials
in Lindi and Mikindani, a flourishing Slave Trade is being carried on from these places, and, indeed,
it is principally by means of dhows under French colours which convey these forbidden commodities!
The Arab masters of the dhows cause their vessels to be surveyed in Madagascar by the French
authorities, obtain in consequence the right to fly the French flag, and are by this means protected
against all supervision by the English men-of-war which cruise in the waters of the Sultanate of Zanzibar
for the suppression of the Slave Trade.
You will agree with me that this custom of the dhows as hitherto observed leads to a misuse of
the French flag, and constitutes a serious obstacle to the suppression of the Slave Trade, which is desired
by all the European Governments in common.
While having the honour to draw your attention to the state of things thus set forth, and to request
your assistance towards the removal of this evil, I take this opportunity, &c.
(Signed) G. MICHAHELLES,
Imperial German Consul-General.
APPENDIX No. 5.
Mr. Cfacknall to the Earl of Rosebery.—{Received September 25.)
My Lord, Zanzibar, August 17, 1893.
I HAVE the honour to inform Your Lordship that yesterday afternoon the Arab referred to
in Mr. Rodd's despatch No. 191 of the 14th ultimo came to my house, and reported that a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
with slaves, would leave Mtoni that evening bound for Pemba I therefore thought it my duty
to communicate the information to the naval authorities, and wrote to Captain Gamble, of Her
Majesty's ship " Raleigh," Senior Naval Officer, who sent a boat away in search, which succeeded in
capturing the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. in question.
Lieutenant Wemyss, the officer in charge of the boat, informed me this morning that at
10 p.m . last night he found the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. under way proceeding north outside the harbour within
Zanzibar territorial waters, and hailed her, demanding that the sail be lowered, which request
was refused. He then asked to see the papers, and only received the reply that the nationality
was French, together with the exhibition of French colours. He then determined to verify the
papers, and went on board, when the captain and another of the crew tried to push him off.