Zanzibar Affairs [‎144v] (4/10)

You are well aware of the anxiety of Her Majesty’s Government to drive
this horrible trade from its last stronghold on the east coast; but I cannot but
agree with the committee in thinking that the process must he gradual, that it
would not he practicable to prohibit at once all traffic in slaves within the
Sultan’s dominions, and that the wisest course will be to restrain the coast traffic
as much as possible; to regulate the export of slaves from the mainland so as to
brino* it under proper supervision and control j to limit the numbers expoited
to the actual want of the inhabitants, and by gradually substituting free for
slave labour eventually to abolish it entirely.
The report of the committee has been referred to the Government of
India, to the Bombay Government, and to the Naval Commander-in-Chief on
the East Coast, as it "may be some time before their replies are received, and I
am enabled to send you final instructions upon the whole subject, it will be
well in the meantime" that you should ascertain the Sultan’s views upon these
proposals with which the Eoreign Office is more immediately concerned, and how
far His Highness would be disposed to co-operate with Her Majesty’s Govern
ment in carrying them into effect.
With this object in view I have addressed a letter to His Highness, of
which I enclose a copy.
It will be your duty in delivering this letter to impress upon the Sultan
that, while it is" the earnest desire of Her Majesty’s Government to assist to the
utmost of their ability in arresting the progress of the slave trade on the East
Coast of Africa, they are anxious to interfere as little as possible with vessels
engaged in legitimate commerce, to entertain fairly and impartially all claims
arising from the capture of vessels suspected of being engaged in the slave
trade, and, in short, to treat the sovereign and people of Zanzibar with all the
consideration due to an independent and friendly State.
You will inform the Sultan generally of the measures which the com
mittee propose should be embodied in a treaty, and which, with one exception
that I shall presently notice, meet with my approval, and you will report to
me whether you think it probable that the Sultan will consent to enter into
a treaty with us to the following effect:
I. —To limit the shipment of slaves from the mainland to one point only
on the African Coast, namely, Dar Selam, and to prohibit entirely their
export from any other places You will explain to the Sultan the advantages
of this proposal, as set forth in paragraphs 18, 19, and 20 of the report of
the committee.
II. —To make Zanzibar the only port for the reception of slaves shipped
from Ear Selam, but with liberty to transport them thence to Pemba and
Mambassa only. Imports of slaves to any other place, or which have not
come through Zanzibar, should be declared illegal and liable to seizure.
III. —That the number slaves exported from Ear Selam to Zanzibar and
thence to Pemba and Mambassa shall be strictly limited to the actual require
ments of the inhabitants of those places to be annually settled by mutual con
sent between the Sultan and the British Agent, such number to be gradually
decreased so as to cease altogether within a certain time.
IY.—That every vessel engaged in the transport of slaves shall be liable to
capture, unless she is provided with a proper pass from the Sultan, which shall
be valid only for one voyage, and with distinctive marks on her hull and sails,
a heavy penalty being attached to any piracy of these passes or marks.
Y.—That the public slave markets at Zanzibar shall be closed.
YI. That the Sultan shall engage, from the date of the treaty, to punish
severely any of his subjects who may be proved to be concerned directly or
indirectly in the slave trade, and especially any attempt to molest or interfere
with a liberated slave.