'The Slave Trade of East Africa.' [‎79] (88/108)

79
slaves ; and for securing to these poor creatures the same
privileges as their brethren enjoy on the West Coast of Africa,
We propose to devote this chapter to a cursory examination
of the question of the disposal of the captured slaves.
It was said by Lord Lawrence at the great meeting held
in the Mansion House, that the abolition of this trade must
be a work of time. It will require, moreover, a persistent
and careful blockade of the coast, to convince the traders
that England intends to put an end to the traffic in
slaves. Lord Lawrence is not the only one who has said that
it will take time and energetic measures on the part of our
Government to annihilate the trade : it is the general opinion
of those competent to judge; for while a high price is paid
for the slave in Arabia and Persia, there will always be those
whose interest it will be to supply the market.
Admiral Cockburn, writing before the recent Treaty, gives
the following report:—
" It is without doubt a fact that the trade is as busy and profitable
as ever it was, in spite of all our exertions. Every new plan adopted
by us is quickly met by a cunning device of the Arabs, encouraged
by the Sultan, if not actively, certainly negatively; it is painful to
any naval officer to be obliged to acknowledge this.
"Under existing treaties, and the recent instructions respecting
domestic slaves (the Sultan having the power to give passports to any
number of vessels laden with poor living creatures to be transported
to different parts of his dominions), it is rendered almost impossible for
cruisers to take a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. anywhere south of Lamoo, and during the
south-west monsoon it is very difficult to keep cruisers sufficiently
near the coast to intercept them running with a fresh breeze.
"I assure their Loriships it is a matter of sneer and jeer by the
Arabs—our impotent efforts to stop this horrible abomination. Yes,
my Lord, even the Sultan says the English will talk and bully, but
can't or won't stop the trade. It is positively evident that a new
system must be adopted."
The trade is not, as has been hinted, a recent growth. Mr.
Bandinel, writing in 1841, mentions that in 1820 the average of
20,000 per annum was the number exported from Africa. This,
therefore, seems the regular demand of the Persian and
Arabian market—a demand which has, no doubt, increased of
late years. Its long continuance implies a difficulty in doing
it aAvay. When we look, too, to the character of the tribes'