‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎86v] (12/114)

Events preceding the arbitration by the Government of India-
of these people detest the northern Arabs, and would certainly have opposed Syed Thowevnpp
, A N( f roe8 a 1 ncl Afneang, who have only lately learnt the u<e of fire-arms, have a ff rcat dread of
the Arabs, and would probahly be easily conquered; but the Comoro men are brave and nevt to
10 I cloochees and Mekrauees, would have been His Hi^hness's best defenders' The armed
slaves, of whom many thousands were assembled from the plantations in the interior of tho
island, were a source of great apprehension to the inhabitants, as the chief slaves -holders
were strongly suspected, and, as will subsequently appear correctly so, of secretly corre
sponding with Syed Ihoweynee and of promising to join him on his arrival."
In describing the feeling of the people of Zanzibar as bein- almost
unanimously in favor of Syed Majid, Colonel Righy expressed apprehensions
rei,Mi(liiig the part that would be taken by the armed slaves, of whom there
was a very large number on the island. Syed Majid had incurred tho
resentment of all the slave-owners and dealers by his'efforts in favor of the
aholituH 1 of slavery, and their enmity might have led to their takin- the part
of Syed ihoweynee. The largest slave-owners were men of the El Harth
tube, and regarding these Captain Kigby wrote—
" Tho P rinci pal tribe of Arabs residing at Zanzibar is the El Harth. The members of thi*
tribe possess large landed estates and numerous slaves; they are the oldest Avlh ZZ
the island, and appear to have always had an idea of some dly obtafnLg tre soverLn vk
ing 8 o^ h u m a n i tyt" '"f lie 1 c h ie f ma n 1 o f t hi s t H ife il^nrAb^llk bTn S slh'm e a CllCS, ^f^ 1 ^
all tho principal inhabitants. Notwithstanding tins boh.vi w IlisHHmT. "'r with
him with consideration, and allows all Ins '"jod/to n^rth^ W^ H c ™tiauea to treat
makes him an annual allowance from his treasury of 1 200 German Crmv!'^ 'n *i ""l
come to the knowledge of His Highness that tlds ! ^ n ; 14 has rec < !ntl y
El Harth tribe, have been writing to S™rTh!!l '. . three or four others "f the
and promising him the aid of their tribe and their shves'. 1 ™ "' S "" t0 ' ietIlrone his bother,
i believe that the design of these persons has been to embroil the qon<3 of ih a 1 4 t
a^Syed- Majid they ionnd a wiUing tooling
ail interview wkhSyr/bi^ MiXon^o^the influcntiTrClS^of'tl Kl |rrr h H l
tribe opposed to the intrin-ues of Abdnlli hin ^ ^ ^ 1113,1,111
the utter ruin that would overtake the Araha n ll'?' aUd ex P Iained to him
that trade would suffer, foreign merchants would I,,™ ]" a . r cnsued ' 110 showed
SS XteLWRKR .sssfsS™
It to be immaterial to them personally which side won Vw. I - 0 ' bel ; evin S
t in least of it, doubtful supporters of Syed Maiid thov 1 0111 K ln P' sa y
and placed their services and those of their armed slaves at h!s disposal. 0 '
Syed Majid, who resided at Zan.iba ^ L on ' . ^ S / Cd 1!ur ^ 1 '. ^ther of
latter. Since the death of the iSff 8 to thc
never attends his brotws^ h^lin'pult 0 '''' 8 ' cxceptin "' the *"""&■ ho
me , or sent me any message of welcome since mv . ut , v ,,i ' < - 0< j c,ul0l,s - he baa never visited
assnme power to . nterfere in public allairs , and some tie al'„ i •' attempted to
hred into a buggalow Large trading vessel. . because the