'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎51v] (42/72)

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Inclosure 1 in No. 50.
Mr. Churchill to the Secretary to Government, Bombay.
g| r Zanzibar, February 25, 1869.
IN the course of a conversation I had with Seyd Majid, soon after the arrival of Her
Majesty's ship ^Nymphe/' His Highness having, with reference to the manner in which
I proposed to carry out my instructions relative to the Kutchees under the Sultan's
protection possessing slaves, expressed in strong terms his misgivings as to the friendly
feelings of his subjects towards himself and the Europeans, because of the prevailing belief
that Her Majesty's Government would sooner or later end in forcing His Highness to
sanction the abolition of domestic slavery in his dominions, an event which would, said the
Sultan, bring about the total ruin of the country. I deemed it advisable to request
Commander Meara, of the Nymphe," to postpone his cruise south until I could see my
wav through the difficulty. __. * , „ ii
Finding, however, after a lapse of ten days, that His Highness fears were groundless,
inasmuch as the Arabs were quite indifferent if the natives of Kutch held slaves or not in
Zanzibar, and that His Highness has merely wished to throw difficulties in my way, 1
authorized Commander Meara to proceed on his cruizing tour.
I availed myself of his passing by Johanna to request him to grant a passage to
Seyd Ali, the brother of the King of Johanna, who was desirous, with his cousin, to return
to his native island. _ _ , . ^ j
I have the honour to transmit to you copies of the letters I addressed to Commander
Meara on this subject, and I trust that my having detained the " Nymphe," under the
peculiar circumstances described, will meet with the approval of his Excellency the
Governor in Council.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HY. A. CHURCHILL.
Inclosure 2 in No. 50.
Mr. Churchill to Commander Meara.
g- r Zanzibar, February 3, 1869.
IN consequence of the very serious apprehensions apparently entertained by His
Highness Seyd Majid, the Sultan of Zanzibar, as to the public tranquillity of the place, if
I persevere in carrying out certain instructions that I have recently received from the
Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , connected with the suppression of the Slave Trade on this coast,
and not feeling myself justified in deviating in the least degree from the line of conduct
traced out to me, I deem it urgent to request you to postpone your departure from this
until it may be seen how far the Sultan's apprehensions are founded.
Under any circumstances the presence of a British man-of-war in the port of Zanzibar
at this season of the year, when the Arabs of the coast of Arabia visit these shores in vast
numbers for the purpose of carrying away into slavery the black population of this country,
is desirable; and I trust that these two reasons together w T ill have sufficient weight in
them to prevail upon you to remain here, for the present at all events.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HY. A. CHURCHILL.
Inclosure 3 in No. 50.
Mr. Churchill to Commander Meara.
gj r Zanzibary February 12, 1869.
THE apprehensions entertained By His Highness the Sultan as to the possibility of
disturbances occurring at Zanzibar, having been found to be of an indefinite nature, and
having failed to detect the specious grounds on which His Highness bases his fears lest
a commotion should take place calculated to compromise the Sultan's position and the
lives of the European inhabitants of Zanzibar, I beg you will consider yourself under no
further moral obligation to remain here for the protection of the place.
In proceeding south you will necessarily pass by Johanna, an island whose Chief has