Zanzibar Affairs [‎609v] (4/10)

To the Arab ivory trade the present position of affairs is most serious- they
have now settled far up in the country and collected about them thousands of
slaves drawn from the country itself; these they cannot do without and yet can
not trust; they are all armed, and may turn against their masters.
The Chief with whom they are at war is well provided with arms, am!
caravan of his is now on the way up with several hundred kegs of powder To
stop these people on the way, the Wasagara have been told already to attack
and plunde/them, but this too may be but the beginning of similar attacks on
Arab caravans, for the wild tribes, once plunder has been encouraged, will care
little whom they attack.
Enclosure No. 2. ’
No. 5464, dated Bombay Castle, 10th November 1871.
From _W. Weddeebuen, Esq., Acting Secretary to 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. ,
To—C. U. Aitchison, Esq., C.S.I., Secy, to Govt, of India, Foreign Dept., with G.-G.
I am directed to forward, for the information of the Government of India
the enclosed copy of a letter from the Acting 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. and Consul at
Zanzibar, No. 82-34,3, dated the 30th August last, furnishing particulars with
regard to the financial condition of the Zanzibar State.
No. 82-343, dated Zanzibar, 30th August 1871.
From— John Kiek, Esq., Acting Poltl. Agent and H. B. M/s Consul, Zanzibar,
To W. Weddeebuen, Esq., Acting Secretary to Government, Bombay.
Peculiar facilities for learning accurately some of the more private finan
cial affairs of the Zanzibar State, matters on which usually the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). is
jealously reticent, having been given me, I have the honor to add hereto a
memorandum, showing the financial position of Zanzibar at the time of Syud
Majid’s death, and the present situation of the new Sultan, Syud Burgash, and
of some of the members of his family on whom, in case of death, the throne
would probably devolve.
By the peculiar constitution of the Zanzibar Government, confirmed by
the practice followed on the death of Syud Saeed, and again on the accession
of Syud Burgash, there exists here no public or State treasury; the ships of
war, merchant vessels, guns, arms, as w T ell as houses, plantations, &c., are
all valued or sold, and the net proceeds divided amongst creditors and heirs.
On the death of Syud Saeed a vast fortune was then left and divided
amongst the sons, daughters, &c., the elder members of the family receiving
in full their shares, while Syud Majid held in trust that of the younger brothers
to whom from time to time he made advances which he charged against the
trust funds.
Syud Burgash was one of those who received in full his share of the late
Syud Saeed’s estate, hut most of his patrimony was exhausted in consequence
of the attempt made by him to wrest the throne from his brother.
At Syud Majid’s death there was a debt to Jairam Sewjee of $423,000,
and the unpaid-up shares still due to younger brothers amounted to $420,000,
making the total liabilities on his estate $843,000.
This estate included the ships, arms, guns, plantations, &c., &c., for which
Syud Majid had paid or taken over on his father’s death, and of which Syud
Burgash has already received his share.
The sale and valuation (for such things as ships, arms, &c., were not sold by
auction hut valued), produced $610,000 of which Ludda, as agent for Jairam,
received $308,700, and Syud Burgash took up to the value of $391,004i, being
in part a re-purchase from Ludda of certain things.