'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎56r] (51/72)

Inclosure 2 in No. 54.
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. , Muscat, to the Acting Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay.
(No. 523.) November 20, 1868.
WHILE Saleh-ben-Ali was with me yesterday, as reported in my letter of this date,
he led the conversation on the subject of Zanzibar by alluding to the mission of Mahomed-
ben-Salim to England, for the purpose of relieving His Highness Seyd Majid, if possible s
from further payments of the subsidy to Muscat. He also alluded to the property
possessed there by Muscat people, and his fears that it might be confiscated by Seyd
Majid. He ended by stating that an expedition to Zanzibar would be so popular that he
would experience no difficulty in getting 50,000 men to take part in it.
2. I pointed out to him that the Government of India had insisted on Seyd Majid
fulfilling his part of the arbitration agreement with this State by causing him to pay,
much against his will, all arrears of subsidy due to Seyd Salim, and that, whilst he might
rely on strict justice being meted out to this State in every dispute arising with Zanzibar,
it was my opinion that the Government of India would at once put a stop to apy
movement against the territory of Seyd Majid.
3. I further told him that the wild talk in the town for the last fortnight had not
been lost on me, but that T had already warned Government that some such undertaking
was contemplated. He said he had not thought of sending a force, but of going himself
to Zanzibar to look after his interests there, and asked, if he went down as passenger in a
British ship, whether the British would prevent Seyd Majid seizing him. 1 answered, I
thought it probable that the 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. at that place would himself surrender him to
His Highness Seyd Majid if he attempted any such thing. He thereupon laughed and
turned the conversation.
4. I have considered it my duty to bring this short conversation to the notice of
Government, as, though it was not meant to be in the least official, it confirms my fears,
as previously reported in my letter of the 14th November. It is evident to me that this
people dread not only the loss of the annual subsidy but also the confiscation of the
property in Zanzibar of its individual members. In their present temper, thereforej I am
strongly of opinion that Government should, if possible, take the precaution of relieving
their minds from all apprehensions on these points, as the departure of Mahomed-ben-
Salim's mission to Europe has been unfortunately specially ill-timed; and if it is success
ful, and no compensation is given to this State for the loss of its subsidy, we could not
with justice interfere to prevent the nation asserting their assumed rights by force. Seyd
Majid would then, I am afraid, find that the annual payment of 40,000 dollars was a cheap
premium to insure the peace of his dominions.
5. Whilst I bring my fears to their notice, I trust I can confidently assure Govern
ment that no expedition will be permitted to leave while I have the honour to represent
them at Muscat; but, at the same time, I must point out that it will be impossible to
prevent the departure of emissaries for Zanzibar if these people are goaded into taking
extreme measures. I therefore earnestly, beg of them to do their utmost to prevail on
Seyd Majid to abandon all idea of being relieved from future payments of the subsidy, and
advise him to take especial care not to irritate this people by proceeding to measures of
confiscation, as in the case of Seyd Hillal—measures to support which he cannot have the
pretence of a right to offer, and which cannot now be carried out with impunity, as in the
time of the weak Seyd Salim.
Inclosure 3 in No. 54.
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. , Muscat, to the Chief Secretary to Government, Bombay.
(No. 516.) November 14, 1868.
I HAVE the honour to address Government on a matter which I think should attract
their attention, as it relates to a contingency by no means remote, viz., an attempt to
revolutionize Zanzibar by the parties who have been so successful in this respect at
Muscat. I am the more induced to bring my fears to the notice of Government, as I
apprehend the events which have transpired here may cause Seyd Majid to confiscate the
property of Sheikhs Saleh-bin-Ali and Saeed-bin-Ali, and others of the Al-Harth and
different tribes who own large sugar and clove plantations in his territory. A reference to
my letter dated 22nd June last, will show that His Highness Seyd Majid is not incapable
of such conduct.