!['Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar' [‎117v] (23/63)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000108/IOR_L_PS_18_B90_0023.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar' [‎117v] (23/63)")
'Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar' [117v] (23/63)
The record is made up of 1 file (28 folios). It was created in 1870. 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.
20
Hfnry A. Churchill , Esq., C.B., Her Majesty's
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.
and Consul at
Zanzibar, to His Highness Majid bin Saeed , Sultan of Zanzibar, dated 10th
December 1867.
After compliments.
For some months past theft has been rife in Zanzibar, and, notwithstanding
the exertions of your officers entrusted with the police of the town, houses and
shops are being broken into, or opened with false keys, and property is stolen.
Within the last few days it has been discovered that a native of Kutch, Jairam
Waljee by name, was at the head of a gang of thieves, whom he furnished with
information and with the necessary implements to penetrate into the premises
containing valuable property.
Certain depositions having been made at the Consular Court by British subjects,
with reference to a quantity of stolen goods found in the possession of Jairam
Waljee, it becomes my imperative duty to cause this individual to be apprehended
and tried for his misdeeds, and, although he has forfeited the protection of Her
Majesty's Government by not inscribing his name in the register of British pro
tected subjects, and has placed himself under Your Highness's protection, I do
not consider that he has, in so doing, deprived me of the power I have of exercising
jurisdiction over all British subjects, and British protected subjects, in Your
Highness's dominions.
As the said person is under Your Highness's protection, however, I shall feel
diffident in causing him to be arrested by my own men, and I have, therefore, the
honour to request that Your Highness will issue such orders as will ensure his
appearance before Her Majesty's Criminal Court as soon as possible.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) H. A. Churchill.
Henry Churchill , Esq., C.B., Her Majesty's
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.
and Consul at
Zanzibar, to His Highness Seyd Majid , Sultan of Zanzibar, dated 16th
December 1867.
After compliments.
I have, on several occasions, had the honour to draw Your Highness's
attention to the fact that, notwithstanding the Proclamation of the late Seyd Saeed
and Your Highness's own, issued soon after your father's death, that no slaves be
sold to natives of India; and, notwithstanding the stringent measures taken by
Colonel Rigby to emancipate the slaves held at Zanzibar by natives of India, there
are still in the possession of the latter many slaves which it was incumbent on me to
liberate.
In my first conversation with Your Highness on this important subject, I am
afraid that I failed to make clear to Your Highness the difference existing between
protection and jurisdiction. It will be my task in this communication to explain
that difference.
In Colonel Hamerton and Colonel Rigby's time, as your Highness is well
aware, all natives of India at Zanzibar were under British protection, and thence
it is that no particular mention is made of the subjects of the Rao of Kutch. It
is only of late years that natives of India have been allowed to place themselves
under your Highness's protection, and this because they had been deprived of
British protection in consequence of their not having inscribed their names in the
registers of Her Majesty's Consulate.
But these individuals enjoy Your Highness's protection in the same way that
all foreigners in Your Highness's service enjoy it, and in an equal degree with your
Highness's subjects who may be in the service of Europeans at Zanzibar, who enjoy
the protection of the Sovereign of whom their meters are the subjects.
If, for instance, one of your Highness's subjects, in the service of a European
at Zanzibar, were to commit a crime punishable by your laws, would not your
Highness claim the culprit of the protective Consul of that European, and would
not that Consul, on being convinced of the culpability of the accused person,
cause him to be given up to your Highness ? The mode of proceeding would be
in strict accordance with the treaties, and it is but just that your Highness should
About this item
- Content
This file contains a selection of correspondence, extracts and reports regarding the involvement of British subjects from the Princely State of Kutch [Cutch] in the slave trade in Zanzibar and attempts by the British Government to end this involvement.
Much of the correspondence is from Britain's 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. in Zanzibar, Henry Adrian Churchill and Britain's 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. in Kutch, Major Alexander Young Shortt. This includes translated copies of correspondence between Churchill and the Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyd [Sayyid] Majid bin Said.
On folio 128, the file contains a proclamation issued by the ruler of Kutch, the Maharaja Dhiraj Mirza Maha Rao Shree Praguruljee, that warns his subjects in Kutch of the penalties of being engaged in the slave trade in general and specifically in Zanzibar.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (28 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in rough chronological order.
A contents page is included on folio 108.
- 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 107, and terminates at f 134, 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
'Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar' [117v] (23/63), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B90, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023800070.0x000018> [accessed 28 March 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023800070.0x000018
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_100023800070.0x000018">'Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar' [‎117v] (23/63)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023800070.0x000018"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000108/IOR_L_PS_18_B90_0023.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000833.0x000108/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B90
- Title
- 'Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar'
- Pages
- front, 107r:108v, 111r:135v, i-r:i-v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence