'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎267] (444/524)

TOUR IN COUNTRIES AROUND ZANZIBAR, &C. 267
62. Unfortunately he has been compelled to employ slave labour, but
in so mitigated a form as to rob it of all its horrors. The importation
of slaves into the island has long ceased, it received a temporary sti
mulus from the engage system, but that was of short continuance. The
institution of domestic slavery of course prevails, and the climate of the
island, unlike that of Zanzibar, Mozambique, &c., is so congenial to the
African constitution, that the births pretty nearly equalize the deaths,
thus the supply of slave labour is perpetuated.
63. Mr. Sunley hires these domestic slaves from their masters,
paying the latter %\\ per mensem, and a further allowance of from
half-a-dollar to two dollars, together with food and clothing, is made to
the slaves themselves. Out of the 230 men in his employment not
more than 50 are free men.
64. Her Majesty’s Government deemed it impossible that a British
Consul could be permitted to employ slave labour in any form, and Mr.
Sunley was given to understand that he must employ free men only, or
resign his Consulate. He had sunk all his capital in the enterprize in
which he is engaged, and finding it impossible to continue it without
the assistance of slave labour, he has accepted the latter alternative.
65. The loss to him is insignificant, his remuneration as Consul is
only ^6150 per annum, while his sugar plantations yield ten times that
amount, but the loss to the public service will be far more serious.
66. Mr. Smiley’s long residence here, and his sterling qualities have
given him an influence in the councils of the King and his Chiefs, such
as few Consuls succeed in attaining, that has always been used for good,
and the result is that the island once noted for disaffection to its ruler,
and for the intestine feuds amongst its Chiefs, has enjoyed uninterrupted
tranquillity.
67. On the 9th of November, in company with Mr. Sunley, I steamed
round to Mootsamoodoo, the capital, to pay my icspects to the King.
I was much pleased with His Highness, who appears to be a young
man of considerable intelligence, and a fair English scholar. He begge
me to remind Her Majesty’s Government that he has as yet received no
compensation for his dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , which was impropeily destioyed by H- • s
S. “ Gorgon,” two years ago, within sight of the island. Mr. Sunley
informed me that his statement was quite correct, and tnat he ha report
ed the facts of the case to the Foreign office, but has received no rep y.