'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎263] (440/524)

TOUR IN COUNTRIES AROUND ZANZIBAR. &C\ 2Cl
remained some weeks at Mozambique, and she appears to be spending
time under the pretext of legitimate trade till her consorts arrive. She
was carefully searched by the Governor-General, but no conclusive
proof of her character was obtained. I cannot refrain from recording
that it was His Excellency who first communicated to our naval officers
the fact of her presence on the coast, and his suspicions regarding
her. ^
41. I do not entertain a doubt that His Excellency is sincere in bis
desire to prevent this execrable traffic, but he met with no support from
his subordinates. In the Blue Book before quoted there is a corre
spondence on the subject, and in one of his despatches (pp. 185-6-7)
he indignantly denies that his subordinate officers are in any way
concerned with it at the present day, whatever might have been the
case formerly.
42. This despatch is dated 15th February 1862, but in conversation
with me, His Excellency frankly admitted that had his information
been as correct then, as it is now, he would have modified his language
considerably.
46. Slavery is sanctioned as a domestic institution, and I believe,
that with the single exception of the Governor-General, there is not a
man in the province who has a free servant. As the law now stands,
all slaves are to become free in 1878, but whether this will take effect
without considerable exterior pressure is very doubtful.
47. My short residence at Mozambique does not enable me to speak
authoritatively of the state of the domestic slaves. I was told that they
were generally well treated ; nevertheless I was forcibly struck with the
difference between them and those at Zanzibar. The latter are the
gayest and happiest class of the community, continually dancing and
singing, for two days in the week they are allowed to work for them
selves, and their manner is free and unconstrained. Here they never
meet an European without making the deepest reverence, they address
their masters with bated breath, and appear to stand in the greatest
awe of them. It is true that a master may not, by law, beat his slave,
hut he may send him to the Police to be beaten, or he may sentence
him to imprisonment with hard labour in irons on the public works,
without cause shown before any legal tribunal.