Skip to item: of 72
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎60r] (59/72)

The record is made up of 1 volume (34 folios). It was created in 29 Oct 1869. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

His Highness has replied by placing the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and slaves at the disposal of Her
Majesty's ship " Nymphe," although taken in his own harbour, and warmly approved of
my proceedings, condoling with us on the loss we have sustained.
This dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. will accordingly be condemned in the Vice-Admiralty Court as a prize to
the officers and crew of Her Majesty's ship " Nymphe."
His Highness' Secretary, Sheikh Suliman bin Ali, is now engaged in examining the
slaves as to where, and by whom, they had been sold, in order that all concerned may
meet with punishment.
I trust that His Highness' conduct on this occasion, and the gallantry of the officers
and men engaged in this capture, may meet with the approbation of the Right Honourable
the Governor in Council,
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN KIRK.
Inclosure 3 in No. 61.
Dr. Kirk to the Sultan of Zanzibar.
(After the usual compliments.) Zanzibar, April 11, 1869.
IT is my duty to bring to your Highness' notice at the earliest opportunity, what
happened last night between certain Arabs under your Highness' jurisdiciion, and two
boats' crews of Her Majesty's ship "Nymphe."
Having learned that certain Arabs were embarking slaves at Nasimoja at midnight, I
gave information of the fact to the Commander of Her Majesty's ship "Nymphe,"
and requested him to send immediately for the purpose of learning the truth of the
report.
Captain Meara at once sent two boats to the spot.
They had no sooner arrived and seen that, indeed, upwards of 100 slaves had been
embarked, and that many more remained on shore, under guard of about thirty Arabs, than
the Arabs fired upon the English boats from the shore, killing one man, and wounding
most seriously one of the officers in command.
When attacked, the boats returned the fire on the Arabs and towed off the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. ,
containing slaves numbering 135, notwithstanding the firing of the Arabs.
"When first attacked, the boats were only thirty paces from the beach, so that every
shot told against them ; and I consider that the crews behaved most gallantly in thus
succeeding in taking off the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and slaves.
I have now to demand of your Highness what I know it will be a true pleasure for
you to grant; that is, the seizure of all suspected to have been engaged in this affair, and
the punishment of those convicted.
The slaves now on board Her Majesty's ship " Nymphe " will identify the house in
which they have been secreted, and which is well known, and the correspondence taken out
of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. will throw more light still on the authors of this outrage.
I have the honour to inclose a list of those who shipped slaves in the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , that they
may be seized.
(Signed) JOHN KIRK.
Inclosure 4 in No. 61.
Abstract of Correspondence seized on board of the Dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. taken on 12th April, 1869.
THE capture of correspondence intended for Arabia, which was made in the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
taken on the morning of the 12th instant in Zanzibar harbour by Her Majesty's ship
"Nymphe," shows clearly that the people of Jailan and Ras el Hadd, especially the Beni
boo Hassan, are deeply implicated in the outrages yearly committed by the Northern Arabs
who frequent these parts during the north monsoon for no other purpose but that of the
Slave Trade.
One third of the letters taken contain lists and prices of slaves shipped in this dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. ,
and to whom they are consigned. Some refer to shipments that have already taken place.
All complain of the present high price of slaves, and one man writes that, in cor.sefjuence
of Seyd Majid's vigilance, he cannot safely execute an order for slaves at the j resent
time.
In general, the letters speak highly of the strength of Seyd Majid's Government,

About this item

Content

This file contains printed copies of correspondence between British officials regarding Britain's attempts to prohibit slave traffic on the East Coast of Africa, relations between Britain and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and Zanzibar's relations with Muscat. The correspondence dates from September 1866-July 1869.

The file contains translated copies of correspondence between the Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Saeed and the Viceroy of India, John Laird Mair Lawrence as well as translated correspondence between an Envoy of the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord Stanley [Edward Henry Stanley].

On folio 42r, the file contains a translation of a letter from Queen Victoria to the Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Saeed. The letter confirms the friendly relations between the two and informs the Sultan that a sword has been specially commissioned for him as a gift.

The file also contains translated correspondence between the Sultan of Johanna [Anjouan Island, now part of the Comoros Islands] and Henry Adrian Churchill, Britain's Agent in Zanzibar.

Extent and format
1 volume (34 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged in rough chronological order, with the earliest correspondence at the beginning of the file and the latest at the end of the file.

Physical characteristics

Condition: the file is contained within a bound volume that contains a number of other files.

Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at f 31, and terminates at f 66, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 5-134; these numbers are written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [‎60r] (59/72), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B83, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023608767.0x00003c> [accessed 23 March 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023608767.0x00003c">'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression' [&lrm;60r] (59/72)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023608767.0x00003c">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000102/IOR_L_PS_18_B83_0059.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000102/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image