"ملف 5/65 I مسألة التصرف مع العتقاء من الرق واقتراح بالتحقق من حركة المرور بين موانئ مسقط وعُمان وزنجبار" [و‎‎١‎٤] (٢٠٠/٣٨)

for the purpose, either as town labourers or as hamals or carriers, Sir
Lloyd Mathews believes that it would be quite feasible to arrange for
their employment in that eapacity by the numerous European mercantile
firms here; in which case they would receive no holding or house, but a
regular daily wage, paid weekly or monthly according to the nature of
the contract.
It is probable that these freed slaves could be utilized in much the
same way on the mainland, and I should be quite ready to receive one
hundred (I had rather not have more at first till we see how they
answer) at Mombasa, where both the Railway and certainly the Public
Works and Shipping Departments could find regular employment for
them, as carriers and town labourers. Their settlement on agricultural
holdings on the coast would present greater difficulties than in the
islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, for the Government has no plantations
there under regular supervision, and most of the land belongs to Arabs
and Swahilis and is cultivated on the " Metayer " system by their slaves.
But we could allow them, if they wished, to settle at Mwele, where
there is abundant and fairly good land waiting for cultivation, provided
they had earned enough money to feed themselves and their families
during the eight months or so which must elapse between their settlement
and their getting in their first crop.
Much must depend upon the antecedents and past habits of the
slaves, as well as on the class of work to which they have been accustomed.
The domestic slave born and bred in an Arab household in Arabia proper
(a class known in this country as " wazalia '), and trained to follow their
masters, according to the fashion of the Oman, as armed retainers, would
probably not be suitable for any kind of agricultural or porterage work,
and any importation of freed slaves of this class would indeed constitute
a very undesirable addition to our population both here and on the '
mainland. But ordinary agricultural freed slaves, employed in the date 1
plantations, or accustomed to manual labour, whether born or not in
Arabia, would probably be very useful, and both here and at Mombasa
we would gladly arrange for their reception.
I have, &c.,
Arthur II. IIardinge.
The Marquess of Salisbury, K.Gr.,
&c., &C., &c.
it
A