Page 261 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat
P. 261
85
197- From enquiries made by the Home Government, it was found that
Sir Lloyd Mathews (Minister to the Sultan
External A . August 1897, Nos 17-24.
of Zanzibar) was prepared to employ
emancipated slaves on the plantation of the Zanzibar Government in the islands
of Zanzibar and lemba. Mr. A. Hardinge (Consul-General at Zanzibar) enume
rated other ways in which they could be employed as hatnals, carriers, etc.
19S. Major Meade (Resident in the Gulf) stated that these suggestions for
employnieut of slaves liberaied within his
External A., January 1898, Nos. 122-132.
charge were feasible, provided the neces
sary funds were forthcoming for despatching them to Zanzibar. Lieutenant- Colonel
Loch (Resident at Baghdad) reported that not more than 2 per cent, of the
liberated slaves in 'I urkish Arabia desired to leave the country and that at least
90 per cent, of the males and all the females belonged to the domestic class for
whom there was no opening at Zanzibar. No expenditure was incurred by the
Resident in Turkish Arabia upon slaves after their emancipation. The Govern
ment of India in submitting these reports to the Secretary of State stated that
no further action appeared necessary in respect to slaves freed in Turkish Arabia,
while in regard to those freed within the Gulf Residency charge, Colonel Meade
had been directed to take the necessary measures in direct communication with
the Consul-General at Zanzibar (despatch No. 175-External, dated 30th Decem
ber 1S97).
199. The proposed procedure was ap
External A., February 1900, Nos. 22-24.
proved in the Secretary of State's despatch
No. 178, dated 27th November 1889.
200. In July 1S99 three slaves who were manumitted at Bushire were sent
in the Lapwng to Maskat for despatch
External A., February 1900, No*. 22-24.
to Zanzibar, one of them having volunteered
to serve in the Lapwing was allowed to remain on board. There were no
buggalows under the British flag to sail to Zanzibar, and as it was not desirable to
send them by vessels under Arab or foreign colours and no vessels under trust
worthy nakhodas were always available at Bombay, the Government of India
directed at the Resident’s suggestion that they should be sent to Zanzibar by
steamer at a cost of Rs. 159 each, and that the same course should be adopted
in future (Foreign Department letter to the Resident, No. 14.5-E.A-, dated
16th January 1900).
201. From the reports of the Resident at Bushire it appears that the num
ber of slaves, who were likely to be sent
External A.. August 1900, Nos. 30-56.
from Maskat to Zanzibar, would not exceed
fifteen each year, while the number from the Gulf would be very small. The
Foreign Office agreed to bear the charges
External A., November 1900, Nos. 23-25.
for the passage of manumitted slaves to
Zanzibar at the rate proposed for a period of two years as an experiment (Secre
tary of State’s despatch No. 114-Political, dated 27th September 1900).
202. From a statement forwarded by the Resident in November 1902, it
appears that from February 1900 to May
External A., January 1903, Nos- 22-23.
1902, 35 manumitted slaves were despatch
External A , May 1903. Nos. 58-59.
ed to Zanzibar, of whom 28 were sent
direct from Maskat by sailing ships under arrangements made by the Political
Agent, Maskat, at a cost of a little over Rs. 15 a head; and the remaining 7
were sent by steamer by way of Bombay and Aden. The Resident was of opinion
that these arrangements being very economical might be conveniently con
tinued, and on the recommendation of the Government of India, the Home Gov
ernment sanctioned their continuance (Secretary of State's despatch No. 26-
Political, dated 27th March 1903).
(iii) Disposal of fines recovered from Chiefs in the Gulf for slave trade offences by
their subjects.
203. In case of offences connected with slave trade committed within the
Secret E., April 1895, No*. 5-14. territory of the Trucial Chiefs, who are
Secret E , July 1896, No*. 260-263. bound by slave-trade treaties, the practice
had for long been to hold the Chief responsible for any breach of the treaty
1.C643FD]
