'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎43v] (26/72)

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Indian Government in the matter of the erection cf a jail at Zanzibar, as reported in the
letter from the Government of India dated the 8th of July last.
I am ? &c.
(Signed) A. J. OTWAY.
No. 32.
Mr. Otway to Mr. Merivale.
gj r Foreign Office, December 31, 1868.
WITH reference to the correspondence as marked in the margin* which has passed
between this Department and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , upon the question of the policy of releasing
the Sultan of Zanzibar from the obligation which he is under to pay an annual subsidy of
40,000 dollars to the Sultan of Muscat, I am directed by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit
to you for the information of his Grace the Duke of Argyll, the accompanying copies of
despatches from Mr. Churchill, British Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and Consul at Zanzibar, containing
matter which, in his Lordship's opinion, should be taken into consideration in dealing with
the question of relieving Sultan Seyd Majid from his obligations towards Muscat.
I am to add that Lord Clarendon would be glad to be made acquainted with the
decision which his Grace may come to in this matter, as the instructions vyhich his Lord
ship proposes to address to Mr. Churchill for his guidance ^in his negotiations with the
Sultan of Zanzibar for the suppression of the Slave Trade, will necessarily be materially
affected by the question whether or not His Highness is relieved from the payment of the
Muscat subsidy.
I am, &c.
(Signed) A. J. OTWAY.
No. 33.
Mr. Otway to Mr. Merivale.
gi r Foreign Office, December SI, 1868.
WITH reference to my letter of this day's date, inclosing copies of despatches from
Her Majesty's Consul and Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Zanzibar upon the question of the payment by
the Sultan of Zanzibar of the Muscat subsidy, and upon other matters connected with the
suppression of the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa, I am directed by the Earl of
Clarendon to transmit to you, to be laid before his Grace the Duke of Argyll, the accom
panying copy of a letter from the Admiralty inclosing copies of a despatch and its inclosures
from Commodore Heath, reporting what passed at an interview which he had with the
Sultan of Zanzibar on the subject of the suppresion of the export Trade in Slaves from
his dominions, and containing some suggestions bearing upon this matter.
I am, &c.
(Signed) A. J. OTWAY.
No. 34.
Sir T. Buxton to Mr. Otway.—{Received January 18.)
Dear Mr. Otway, 23, Upper Brook Street, January 16, 1869.
I GLADLY avail myself of your suggestion that I should put on paper some of the
points that I had the pleasure of discussing with you on the 12th January in reference to
the existing Slave Trade from the African Coast to the ports of the Red Sea and
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I abstain from saying anything in reference to the inherent cruelty of the
Trade at every stage. The writings of Baker, Livingstone .(Zambesi and Tributaries,
ch. 18, 19, 29) and Waller, and the despatches of General Rigby, Consul Seward, and
Brigadier Coghlan, have left no room for doubt on that point; but it has not been made
so clear how great an injurv to trade is produced by it.
In those districts of the interior which have not been touched by it, there is generally
found an industrious population working iron and pottery, cultivating different kinds of
grain, and showing anxiety to obtain a knowledge of European art and agriculture.
(Livingstone letter, 2nd February, 1867.) Among these tribes cotton cloth is the article
* To India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , June 4; India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , June 25 ; July 2; to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , November 20, 1868.