'Slave-dealing and Slave-holding by Kutchees in Zanzibar' [‎132r] (52/63)

49
No. 3P of 1869.
Oriental Translator's Department,
24th June 1869.
Extract translation of a petition from Syud Hamud bin Sooleyman and Shaikh
Mahomed bin Shaikh Abdulla, Envoys from His Highness Syud Majid, Sultan of
Zanzibar, to his Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Seymour V. Fitz Gerald,
Governor of Bombay, dated and received 23d June 1869.
*****
2, When Colonel Pelly, the Consul, came to Zanzibar, he wished to distinguish
the Hindoo and Banyan Merchant of Indian extraction. subjects af the British Government from those of Syud
Majid. He then issued a notification to the effect that every one who was a
subject of the British Government should appear (before him) and have his name
entered in the records of the British Government, and that all those who were
subjects of Syud Majid should have their names entered in the records of Syud
Majid. This was done accordingly, and each knew who was his subject. This
state of things continued until Colonel Pelly left Zanzibar. When Colonel Play-
fair arrived, he again had similar entries made in the records, and this state of
things continued until his departure. Dr. Seward, who succeeded Colonel Play-
fair, also did what his predecessors had done. Afterwards, Mr. Churchill came as
Consul to Zanzibar. After a long time he claimed the Hindoos and Banyans as
British subjects, and made demands contrary to the proceedings of his prede
cessors. He wished that they all should be the subjects of the British Govern
ment. The matter now rests in this state, pending a representation from Syud
Majid to the British Government as to whether the proceedings of the former
Consuls are to be upheld, or whether what Mr. Churchill proposes to do should
be done. Syud Majid hopes that the British Government will favour him with
replies on these two points.
(Signed) Venayek Wassoodew,
Oriental Translator to Government.
No. 2281 of 1869.
Political Department.
Extract Letter from C. Gonne , Esq., Secretary to Government, Bombay, to Syud
Hamud bin Sooleyman and Shaik Mahomed bin Shaik Abdoolla , Envoys from
His Highness Syud Majid, Sultan of Zanzibar.
Bombay Castle, 28th July 1869.
His Excellency the Governor in Council has had under consideration the *
Letter dated 23d June last, in which you have stated the objects of your deputa
tion by His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar.
*****
In the second place, you intimate that His Highness Syud Majid wishes that
His Excellency should consider whether the proceedings of the Consul,
Mr. Churchill, should be upheld, in that, departing from the practice of his pre
decessors, he has declined to recognize any distinction between the Hindoos and
Banyans, who have registered themselves as claimants of the protection of the
British Government, and those who have not done so, and has treated them all as
liable to the laws affecting British subjects.
His Excellency in Council understands that the persons to whom you allude
are subjects of His Highness the Rao of Kutch, an Indian State under the pro
tection of the paramount power of the British Government, and the particular
mattfer in respect of which the liability of those persons to the British law has been
called in question is the slave trade.
I am now directed to inform you that the Rao of Kutch entirely sympathizes
with the British Government in their desire that no Indian subject should take
part in the slave trade, and His Highness has issued a proclamation, dated
24th April last, which has been published in Kutch and Bombay, and which has
also been sent to Zanzibar for communication to the Kutchees of that place,
announcing that participation in the slave trade is contrary to the laws of Kutch,
11532. N