Letter and Enclosures from Commodore Sir Leopold George Heath on the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and Suggestions for its Suppression [‎93r] (3/12)

9. The destruction of an insignificant per-centage of the plant employed in working
a traffic yielding a profit of many hundreds per cent, can have no perceptible influence on
that traffic, and the rescuing of negroes who have already gone through the greater portion of
the sufferings incidental to their transfer from the interior of Africa is of doubtful good
to the individuals so rescued. For twenty-five years we have followed one dull routine,
capturing a few dhows here and there, rescuing a few slaves and consigning them to a fate
which is certainly worse physically, whatever it may be morally, than that which awaited
them in Arabia. We have paid from 10,000/. to 15,000Z. annually in bounties to the
captors, and we are none the nearer the attainment of our end.
10. I think the time has come for changing out system and making a more earnest
effort, and as the Sultan has rejected the proposals which I made to him, the ground is
clear for other arrangements, and if the question is taken up by the Government, still
more radical remedies might be applied. All civilized Governments have now completely
washed their hands of the Slave Trade, and 1 see no reason why Zanzibar should be
allowed to continue it. The legalizing of any traffic whatever by sea makes the repression
of that which is illegal more difficult, and the population of the island being very large
and the price of slaves in the market very low, there can be no real want of labour.
11. I would suggest:—
1st. That the Foreign Office should insist upon the adoption, after the expiration of
one year (so as to give time for conveying information to the interior of Africa), of one
port of export from Africa, and upon the gradual diminution of imports into Zanzibar, as
recommended by Mr. Churchill, but on a still more rapidly declining scale, with a final
cessation of all imports in six years; and as the amount of the Muscat subsidy was fixed
from a comparison of the revenues of Zanzibar and Muscat, it would be but fair, when we
enforce a reduction of the Zanzibar revenue, to allow the subsidy to decrease pari passu,
and finally to cease at the same time as the Slave Trade, and thus a most embarrassing
question would be got rid of.
2ndly. That 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. should act both diplomatically and by means of the
vessels belonging to the Bombay Government (which, if 'necessary, might receive special
commissions to legalize their proceedings), upon the rulers on the coasts of Arabia and the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
3rdly. That seeing that the export Slave Trade on the West Coast of Africa has
now ceased to exist, their Lordships should reduce that squadron to a mere squadron
of observation, and send the surplus to this side.
12. The principal additional expense, incidental to carrying out these suggestions,
would be in the Vice-Consulates or Agencies which it would be necessary to establish at
Kilwa, Lamoo, &c., and in a small additional cost for freight of naval provisions; but
it would soon be amply covered by the cessation of the large annual bounties now paid on
account of captures.
13. I trust their Lordships will not think that 1 have given my opinion in too free a
manner. Oue of the principal duties with which I am intrusted is the suppression of the
East African Slave Trade, and if I have presumed to indicate the steps which I think
should be taken by three great Departments of the State for finally attaining that object,
it is because I feel that although what we have hitherto done may have annoyed and
harassed the slave-traders, it has had no effect towards suppressing the trade.
The successive exports for the last five years, from Kilwa alone, are officiallv reported
as 18,500, 17,500, 16,821, 22,344, and 22,038.
I have, &c.
(Signed) L. G. HEATH.
Inclosure 2 in No. I.
Mr. Churchill to Commodore Sir L. Heath.
Si rj Zanzibar, September 2, 1868.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, herewith annexed, a translation of Seyd
Majid's letter to me of this day's date, in reply to him embodying your proposals with
regard to the Slave Trade carried oi^ in the dominions of His Highness the Sultan of
Zanzibar.
1 have, &c.
(Signed) H. A. CHURCHILL.