Political No. 134 of 1874, Forwarding for Information a Copy of Correspondence Regarding the Murder of Mr Heale at Brava in April 1874 [‎219V] (10/12)

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Englishman residing at Brava, acting as Agent for Mr. Carl Schriever of Zanzi
bar, had been murdered by two Somalis at 11 a.m. on or about the 10th of
April. Ahmed bin Abdoollah then showed me a Power of Attorney mven him
by Mr. Carl Schriever, and signed by yourself, which gave him full powers to
act for Mr. Schriever in the event of Mr. Seale’s death. I immediately landed
to investigate the affair. I found the Governor most anxious to explain to me
what had occurred, and he was evidently seriously alarmed. He accompanied
me to Mr. Seale’s house, where, assisted by the Eirst Lieutenant of this ship
Mr. Arthur Phillpotts, I made a careful examination of Mr. Seale’s papers
and effects. I then requested the Governor to accompany me to the owe
which was about a quarter of a mile outside the walls of the town. On the
road there he pointed out the spot where Mr. Seale had been stabbed* and the
direction in which the murderers had escaped. After examining the grave, I
returned on board. On the following afternoon I sent to inform the Governor
that a burial service would be performed at the grave, and that I wished him
and his troops to be present. Accordingly, shortly before sunset, a funeral
party was landed, and service was performed with due ceremony by the
Chaplain of this ship. I he Governor fell in his troops round the grave, and
standing at their head preserved the utmost order and silence. He was, however
very anxious lest any attack should be made by the Somalis, and asked my
permission to station some of his men to guard our boats.
When the funeral service was over I requested the Governor and the Arab
Agent to build a suitable stone monument over the grave, and also erected a
temporary wooden head-board, on which w r as written—
In memory of
Arthur Seale,
who was killed at Brava, *•
10th April 1874.
Brava the same evening and proceeded to Magadoxa. On my return
to Brava on the 5th May the surf was so heavy that it w r as dangerous to
communicate. I however sent in a boat and ascertained that the stone
monument had been built, and that Mr. Seale’s effects were safe under Ahmed
bln Abdoollah s charge, and that the house was guarded by two of the Governor’s
soldiers. The Governor washed me to take a letter from him to the Sultan,
but the weather became so bad that I proceeded to sea without having further
communication. It is very difficult with bad interpreters to get Arab days
and hours translated into their English equivalents, but after many conversa-
10 ns with the Governor, Ahmed bin Abdoollah, and others I ascertained the
following facts:—
., ^ f~on of about the 10th April Mr. Seale went a few yards out-
si e re w alls of the town to look at a small plot of ground which he was
iavmg enclosed, and whilst there two Somalis came down from the hill and
accompanied him to the gates of the town, and to a little open space within the
wu S J:ier ® on ® the Somalis drove a spear through his back, and then
and esca P ed t0 the bush - Mr * Heale ™s carried to
t i ^kdoollah s bouse, where he lingered for seven days and then died.
M> S tt i f lf be wished me to embark the chest of money or any of
bp i rn Ga 6 8 ^ but be said be thought that they were quite safe, although
he was prepared to give them up to me if I wished to take them, provided I
as thevwere 1 * 60 AlPtt H bTb^ 1 tbou ght that it was better to leave the things
tionq anrl fbp i A1 ttei had been written to Zanzibar for Mr. Schriever’s instruc-
? louse appeared to be carefully and safely guarded.
• ^ ^ d ? ncd ^bat the Governor of Brava is in any way to blame. He
of ^ m< Y m Pe + VaS ta hing steps to obtain the murderers from the Chief
^/bich they 1 belong, and that in case of refusal he
nf i • r a ^ ac k the village. I however doubt whether he has sufficient force
at his disposal to enable him to adopt such a hostile measure.
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