'The Slave Trade of East Africa.' [‎57] (66/108)

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before the Slave Trade could be stopped," and also that if the
fleet were withdrawn the trade would be renewed. Among the
despatches presented to Parliament was a letter from Com
modore Tucker, from which it appears that the traders, in
order to elude the cruisers, had established an overland route
for the slave traffic from Lamo to Brava. Dr. Kirk reported
that in the space of about six weeks 2,804 slaves had been
despatched by this route, and explains the formation of a new
settlement at Kismayo, under the Sultan's flag, as follows :—
u The new Somali settlement, under an Arab governor, at Cape
Bissell, known by the natives as Kismayo, has been the means
of opening the land route from Lamo to the Somali ports,
advantage of which has been taken by the slave owners."
This anticipation has been fully realized. In proof of this it
is only necessary to refer to the reports on the present state of
the East African Slave Trade, furnished by Dr. Kirk and Cap
tain Prideaux to Earl Granville in the early part of the present
year. Those reports bring to light the most flagrant violations
of the treaty of June, 1873.
In November, 1873, Dr. Kirk, the 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,
commissioned Capt. Elton to proceed to the mainland, and
there to complete and carry out the policy adopted towards
Indian slave-holders, keeping closely in view the objects of
the Treaty of 5th June, 1873, which are the suppression and
discouragement of the Slave Trade, and the removal from this
odious traffic of all aid or support, direct or indirect, on the
part of the Indian community.
Captain Elton reports that the transport of slaves by land is
now carried on to an unprecedented extent. He says :—
" Five slave caravans, with about 350 slaves, passed Dar-es-
Salam from Kilwa up the coast to my certain knowledge during my
stay; and I received repeated warnings from various quarters that
a strong feeling was aroused at Kisiju and at Kikunia, where the
slave-drivers had openly declared their intention of shooting me."
Again writing on December 26, 1873, he says:—■
u Yarious reports reached me when at Dar-es-Salamof the existence
of a third, the Upper Road ? and upon this, and upon the Kisiiu Road,