dock, where she has been undergoing a thorough repair, and if fitted up
with a round house on the quarter-deck would answer the purpose well.
She might be equipped in a couple of months, and dispatched to her
ground before the South-west Monsoon sets in, or be usefully employed in
observing at Zanzibar instead of lying idle in Bombay Harbour. On former
surveys of the Arabian and African Coasts, a small tender of from thirty
to forty tons has always been granted, as otherwise operations are much
crippled in boisterous weather and exposed on inhospitable shores.
Should no other vessel be available, one of the smallest of the new
Pilot Schooners now unemployed at Bombay might be directed to wait upon
the ‘_Tigris_.’ Lt. H. G. Fraser, I.N., has volunteered for duty upon
the African Coast, and I have the honour to transmit his letter. Nothing
more would be required were some junior officer of the Indian Navy
stationed at Zanzibar for the purpose of registering tidal, barometric,
and thermometric observations, in order that something of the
meteorology of this unknown region may be accurately investigated.
“When passing through Aden I was informed that the blockade of the
Somali Coast had been raised without compensation for the losses
sustained on my last journey. This step appears, politically speaking, a
mistake. In the case of the ‘_Mary Ann_’ brig, plundered near Berberah
in A.D. 1825, due compensation was demanded and obtained. Even in India,
an officer travelling through the states not under British rule, can, if
he be plundered, require an equivalent for his property. This is indeed
our chief protection,--semi-barbarians and savages part with money less
willingly than with life. If it be determined for social reasons at Aden
that the blockade should cease and mutton become cheap, a certain
per-centage could be laid upon the exports of Berberah till such time as
our losses, which, including those of government, amount to 1380_l._,
are made good.
“From Harar news has reached Aden that the Amir Abubakr, dying during
the last year of chronic consumption, has been succeeded by a cousin,
one Abd el Rahman, a bigoted Moslem, and a violent hater of the Gallas.
His success in feud and foray, however, have not prevented the wild
tribes from hemming him in, and unless fortune interfere, the city must
fall into their hands. The rumour prevalent at Cairo, namely, that Harar
had been besieged and taken by Mr. Bell, now serving under ‘Theodorus,
Emperor of Ethiopia’ (the chief Cássái), appears premature. At Aden I
met in exile Sharmarkay bin Ali Salih, formerly governor of Zayla. He
has been ejected in favour of a Dankali chief by the Ottoman authorities
of Yemen, a circumstance the more to be regretted as he has ever been a
firm friend to our interests.
“The present defenceless state of Berberah still invites our presence.
The eastern coast of the Red Sea is almost entirely under the Porte. On
the western shore, Cosseir is Egyptian, Masawwah, Sawakin, and Zayla,
Turkish, and Berberah, the best port of all, unoccupied. I have
frequently advocated the establishment of a British agency at this
place, and venture to do so once more. This step would tend to increase
trade, to obviate accidents in case of shipwreck, and materially assist
in civilizing the Somal of the interior. The Government of Bombay has
doubtless preserved copies of my reports, plans, and estimates
concerning the proposed agency, and I would request the Royal
Geographical Society to inquire into a project peculiarly fitted to
promote their views of exploration in the Eastern Horn of Africa.
Finally, this move would checkmate any ambitious projects in the Red
Sea. The Suez Canal may be said to have commenced. It appears impossible
that the work should pay in a commercial sense. Politically it may, if,
at least, its object be, as announced by the Count d’Escayrac de
Lauture, at the Société de Geographie, to ‘throw open the road of India
to the Mediterranean coasting trade, to democratise commerce and
navigation.’ The first effect of the highway would be, as that learned
traveller justly remarks, to open a passage through Egypt to the
speronari and feluccas of the Levant, the light infantry of a more
regular force.
“The next step should be to provide ourselves with a more efficient
naval force at Aden, the Head-Quarters of the Red Sea Squadron. I may
briefly quote as a proof of the necessity for protection, the number of
British protégés in the neighbouring ports, and the present value of the
Jeddah trade.
“Mocha now contains about twenty-five English subjects, the principal
merchants in the place. At Masawwah, besides a few French and Americans,
there are from sixteen to twenty British protégés, who trade with the
interior, especially for mules required at the Mauritius and our other
colonies. Hodaydah has from fifty to sixty, and Jeddah, besides its
dozen resident merchants, annually witnesses the transit of some
hundreds of British subjects, who flock to the Haj for commerce and
devotion.
“The chief emporium of the Red Sea trade has for centuries past been
Jeddah, the port of Meccah. The custom-house reports of 1856 were kindly
furnished to me by Capt. Frushard, I.N. (now commanding the H.E.I.C’s.
sloop of war, ‘_Elphinstone_,’) an old and experienced officer, lately
employed in blockading Berberah, and who made himself instrumental in
quelling certain recent attempts upon Turkish supremacy in Western
Arabia. According to these documents, thirty-five ships of English build
(square-rigged) arrived at and left Jeddah between the end of September
and April, from and for various places in the East, China, Batavia,
Singapore, Calcutta, Bombay, the Malabar Coast, the Persian Gulf, and
Eastern Africa. Nearly all carried our colours, and were protected, or
supposed to be protected, by a British register: only five had on board
a European captain or sailing master, the rest being commanded and
officered by Arabs and Indians. Their cargoes from India and the Eastern
regions are rice, sugar, piece goods, planking, pepper, and pilgrims;
from Persia, dates, tobacco, and raw silk; and from the Mozambique,
ivory, gold dust, and similar costly articles. These imports in 1856 are
valued at 160,000_l._ The exports for the year, consisting of a little
coffee and spice for purchase of imports, amounts, per returns, to
120,000_l._ In addition to these square-rigged ships, the number of
country vessels, open boats, buggalows, and others, from the Persian
Gulf and the Indian Coasts, amount to 900, importing 550,000_l._, and
exporting about 400,000_l._ I may remark, that to all these sums at
least one-third should be added, as speculation abounds, and books are
kept by triple entry in the Holy Land.
“The next port in importance to Jeddah is Hodaydah, where vessels touch
on their way northward, land piece and other goods, and call on the
return passage to fill with coffee. As the head-quarters of the Yemen
Pashalik, it has reduced Mocha, formerly the great coffee mart, to
insignificance, and the vicinity of Aden, a free port, has drawn off
much of the stream of trade from both these ancient emporia. On the
African Coast of the Red Sea, Sawakin, opposite Jeddah, is a mere slave
mart, and Masawwah, opposite Hodaydah, still trades in pearls, gold
dust, ivory, and mules.
“But if the value of the Red Sea traffic calls, in the present posture
of events, for increased means of protection, the Slave-trade has equal
claims to our attention. At Aden energetic efforts have been made to
suppress it. It is, however, still carried on by country boats from
Sawakin, Tajurrah, Zayla, and the Somali Coast;--a single cargo
sometimes consisting of 200 head gathered from the interior, and
exported to Jeddah and the small ports lying north and south of it. The
trade is, I believe, principally in the hands of Arab merchants at
Jeddah and Hodaydah, and resident foreigners, principally Indian
Moslems, who claim our protection in case of disturbances, and
consequently carry on a thriving business. Our present Squadron in the
Red Sea consisting of only two sailing vessels, the country boats in the
African ports have only to wait till they see the ship pass up or down,
and then knowing the passage--a matter of a day--to be clear, to lodge
the slaves at their destination. During the past year, this trade was
much injured by the revolt of the Arabs against the Turks, and the
constant presence of the ‘_Elphinstone_,’ whose reported object was to
seize all vessels carrying slaves. The effect was principally moral.
Although the instructions for the guidance of the Commander enjoined him
to carry out the wishes of the Home and Indian Governments for the
suppression of Slavery, yet there being no published treaty between the
Imperial Government and the Porte sanctioning to us the right of search
in Turkish bottoms, his interference would not have been supported by
the Ottoman local authorities. It may be well to state, that after a
Firman had been published in the Hejaz and Gemen abolishing the trade,
the Turkish Governments of Jeddah and Hodaydah declared that the English
Commander might do as he pleased, but that they declined making any
written request for his assistance. For its present increased duties,
for the suppression of the Slave-trade, for the protection of British
subjects, and for the watching over Turkish and English interests in the
Red Sea, the Aden Squadron is no longer sufficient. During the last two
years it has numbered two sailing vessels, the ‘_Elphinstone_,’ a sloop
of war, carrying twelve 32-pounders, and two 12-pounders; and the
‘_Mahi_’ a schooner armed with one pivot gun, 32-pounder, and two
12-pounders. Nor would it be benefited by even a considerable increase
of sailing vessels. It is well known that, as the prevailing winds
inside the sea are favourable for proceeding upwards from September to
April, so on the return, during those months, they are strongly adverse.
A fast ship, like the ‘_Elphinstone_,’ requires 30 days on the downward
voyage to do the work of four. Outside the sea, during those months, the
current sets inward from the Indian Ocean, and a ship, in event of very
light winds falling, has been detained a whole week in sight of Aden.
From April to September, on the contrary, the winds set down the Red Sea
frequently with violence; the current inside the sea also turns towards
the Indian Ocean, and outside the S.W. Monsoon is blowing. Finally,
sailing ships draw too much water. In the last year the ‘_Elphinstone_’
kept the Arabs away from Jeddah till the meanness of the Sherif Abd el
Muttalib had caused his downfall. But her great depth (about from 14-6
to 15 ft.) prevented her approaching the shore at Hodaydah near enough
to have injured the insurgents, who, unaware of the fact, delayed their
attack upon the town till famine and a consequent pestilence dispersed
them. With little increase of present expenditure, the Red Sea might be
effectually commanded. Two screw-steamers, small enough to enter every
harbour, and to work steadily amongst the banks on either shore, and yet
large enough to be made useful in conveying English political officers
of rank and Native Princes, when necessary, would amply suffice, a
vessel of the class of H.M.’s gun-boat, ‘_Flying Fish_,’ drawing at
most 9 feet water, and carrying four 32-pounders of 25 cwt. each, as
broadside, and two 32-pounders of 25 cwt. each, as pivot guns, would
probably be that selected. The crews would consist of fewer men than
those at present required, and means would easily be devised for
increasing the accommodation of officers and men, and for securing their
health and comfort during cruises that might last two months in a hot
and dangerous climate.
“By means of two such steamers we shall, I believe, be prepared for any
contingencies which might arise in the Red Sea; and if to this squadron
be added an allowance for interpreters and a slave approver in each
harbour, in fact a few of the precautions practised by the West African
Squadron, the slave-trade in the Red Sea will soon have received its
death-blow, and Eastern Africa its regeneration at our hands.
“I have, &c., &c.,
“R. F. BURTON,
“Commanding East African Expedition.
“H.E.I.C. Sloop of War ‘_Elphinstone_,’
“15th December, 1856.”
6.
No. 961 of 1857.
_From_ H. L. ANDERSON, _Esquire, Secretary to Government, Bombay, to_
Captain R. F. BURTON, _18th Regiment Bombay N. I._
Dated the 23rd July, 1857.
“Sir,--With reference to your letter, dated the 15th December, 1856, to
the address of the Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society of
London, communicating your views on affairs in the Red Sea, and
commenting on the political measures of the Government of India, I am
directed by the Right Honourable the Governor in Council to state, your
want of discretion, and due respect for the authorities to whom you are
subordinate, has been regarded with displeasure by Government.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your most obedient Servant,
“(Signed) H. L. ANDERSON,
“Secretary to Government.
“Bombay Castle, 23rd July, 1857.”
7.
THE MASSACRE AT JUDDAH.
(_Extract from the “Telegraph Courier,” Overland Summary, Bombay,
August 4, 1858._)
“On the 30th June, a massacre of nearly all the Christians took place at
Juddah on the Red Sea. Amongst the victims were Mr. Page, the British
Consul, and the French Consul and his lady. Altogether the Arabs
succeeded in slaughtering about twenty-five.
“H.M. steamship Cyclops was there at the time, and the captain landed
with a boat’s crew, and attempted to bring off some of the survivors,
but he was compelled to retreat, not without having killed a number of
the Arabs. The next day, however, he succeeded in rescuing the few
remaining Christians, and conveyed them to Suez.
“Amongst those who were fortunate enough to escape was the daughter of
the French Consul; and this she succeeded in doing through the fidelity
of a native after she had killed two men with her own hands, and been
severely wounded in the encounter. Telegraphic dispatches were
transmitted to England and France, and the Cyclops is waiting orders at
Suez. As it was apprehended that the news from Juddah might excite the
Arab population of Suez to the commission of similar outrages, H.R.M’s
Vice-Consul at that place applied to the Pasha of Egypt for assistance,
which was immediately afforded by the landing of 500 Turkish soldiers,
under the orders of the Pasha of Suez.”
8.
“Unyanyembe, Central Africa, 24th June, 1858.
“Sir,--I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your official
letter, No. 961 of 1857, conveying to me the displeasure of the
Government in consequence of my having communicated certain views on
political affairs in the Red Sea to the R. G. S. of Great Britain.
“The paper in question was as is directly stated, and it was sent for
transmission to the Board of Directors, or the Foreign Office, not for
publication. I beg to express my regret that it should have contained
any passages offensive to the authorities to whom I am subordinate; and
to assure the Right Honourable the Governor in Council that nothing was
farther from my intentions than to displease a government to whose kind
consideration I have been, and am still, so much indebted.
“In conclusion, I have the honour to remind you that I have received no
reply to my official letter, sent from Zanzibar, urging our claims upon
the Somal for the plunder of our property.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your most obedient Servant,
“RICHARD. F. BURTON,
“Commanding East African Expedition.
To the Secretary to Government, Bombay.”
9.
No. 2845, of 1857.
“Political Department.
_From_ H. L. ANDERSON, Esq., _Secretary to Government of Bombay, to_
Capt. R. F. BURTON, _Commanding E. A. Expedition, Zanzibar_.
“Dated 13th June, 1857.
“Sir,--I am directed by the Right Honourable the Governor in Council to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 26th April last,
soliciting compensation on behalf of yourself and the other members of
the late Somalee Expedition, for losses sustained by you and them.
Having regard to the conduct of the Expedition, His Lordship cannot
think that the officers who composed it have any just claims on the
Government for their personal losses.
“2. In reply, I am desired to inform you, that under the opinion copied
in the margin, expressed by the late Governor-General of India, the
Right Honourable the Governor in Council cannot accede to the
application now preferred.
“I have, &c.,
“(Signed) H. L. ANDERSON,
“Secretary to Government.”
END OF FIRST CORRESPONDENCE.
SECOND CORRESPONDENCE.
1.
“India Office, E. C., 8th November, 1859.
“Sir,--I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to
forward for your information, copy of a letter addressed by Captain
Rigby, her Majesty’s Consul and agent at Zanzibar, to the Government of
Bombay, respecting the non-payment of certain persons hired by you to
accompany the Expedition under your command into Equatorial Africa, and
to request that you will furnish me with any observations which you may
have to make upon the statements contained in that letter.
“Sir Charles Wood especially desires to be informed why you took no
steps to bring the services of the men who accompanied you, and your
obligations to them, to the notice of the Bombay Government.
“I am, Sir,
“Your obedient servant,
“(Signed) T. COSMO MELVILLE.
“Captain R. Burton.”
2.
“No. 70 of 1859.
“Political Department.
_From_ Captain C. P. RIGBY, _her Majesty’s Consul and British agent,
Zanzibar, to_ H. L. ANDERSON, _Esquire, Secretary to Government,
Bombay_.
“Zanzibar, July 15th, 1859.
“Sir,--I have the honour to report, for the information of the Right
Honourable the Governor in Council, the following circumstances
connected with the late East African Expedition under the command of
Captain Burton.
“2. Upon the return of Captain Burton to Zanzibar in March last, from
the interior of Africa, he stated that, from the funds supplied him by
the Royal Geographical Society for the expenses of the Expedition, he
had only a sufficient sum left to defray the passage of himself and
Captain Speke to England, and in consequence the persons who accompanied
the Expedition from here, viz.: the Kafila Bashi, the Belooch Sepoys,
and the porters, received nothing whatever from him on their return.
“3. On quitting Zanzibar for the interior of Africa, the expedition was
accompanied by a party of Belooch soldiers, consisting of a Jemadar and
twelve armed men. I understand they were promised a monthly salary of
five dollars each; they remained with the Expedition for twenty months,
and as they received nothing from Captain Burton beyond a few dollars
each before starting, his highness the Sultan has generously distributed
amongst them the sum of (2300) two thousand three hundred dollars.
“4. The head clerk of the Custom House here, a Banian, by name Ramjee,
procured ten men, who accompanied the Expedition as porters; they were
promised five dollars each per mensem, and received pay for six months,
viz.: thirty dollars each before starting for the interior. They were
absent for twenty months, during three of which the Banian Ramjee
states that they did not accompany the Expedition. He now claims eleven
months’ pay for each of these men, as they have not been paid anything
beyond the advance before starting.
“5. The head clerk also states that after the Expedition left Zanzibar,
he sent two men to Captain Burton with supplies, one of whom was absent
with the Expedition seventeen months, and received nothing whatever; the
other, he states, was absent fifteen months, and received six months’
pay, the pay for the remaining nine months being still due to him. Thus
his claim amounts to the following sums:--
Ten men for eleven months, at five dollars per man, per month,
550 Dollars.
One man for seventeen „ „ „ „
85 „
One „ nine „ „ „ „
45 „
---
Total dollars 680
“6. These men were slaves, belonging to ‘deewans,’ or petty chiefs, on
the opposite mainland. They travel far into the interior to collect and
carry down ivory to the coast, and are absent frequently for the space
of two or three years. When hired out, the pay they receive is equally
divided between the slave and the master. Captain Speke informs me, that
when these men were hired, it was agreed that one-half of their hire
should be paid to the men, and the other half to Ramjee on account of
their owners. When Ramjee asked Captain Burton for their pay, on his
return here, he declined to give him anything, saying that they had
received thirty dollars each on starting, and that he could have bought
them for a less sum.
“7. The Kafila Bashi, or chief Arab, who accompanied the Expedition, by
name Said bin Salem, was twenty-two months with Captain Burton. He
states, that on the first journey to Pangany and Usumbara, he received
fifty (50) dollars from Captain Burton; and that before starting on the
last expedition, to discover the Great Lake, the late Lieutenant-Colonel
Hamerton presented him with five hundred dollars on behalf of Government
for the maintenance of his family during his absence. He states that he
did not stipulate for any monthly pay, as Colonel Hamerton told him,
that if he escorted the gentlemen to the Great Lake in the interior, and
brought them in safety back to Zanzibar, he would be handsomely
rewarded; and both Captain Speke and Mr. Apothecary Frost inform me that
Colonel Hamerton frequently promised Said bin Salem that he should
receive a thousand dollars and a gold watch if the Expedition were
successful.
“8. As it appeared to me that Colonel Hamerton had received no authority
from Government to defray any part of the expenses of this Expedition,
and probably made these promises thinking that if the exploration of the
unknown interior were successful a great national object would be
attained, and that the chief man who conducted the Expedition would be
liberally rewarded, and as Captain Burton had been furnished with funds
to defray the expenses, I told him that I did not feel authorised to
make any payment without the previous sanction of Government, and Said
bin Salem has therefore received nothing whatever since his return.
“9. Said Bin Salem also states, that on the return of the Expedition
from Lake Tanganyika, (70) seventy natives of the country were engaged
as porters, and accompanied the Expedition for three months; and that on
arriving at a place called ‘Kootoo,’ a few days’ journey from the
sea-coast, Captain Burton wished them to diverge from the correct route
to the coast opposite Zanzibar, to accompany him south to Keelwa; but
they refused to do so, saying that none of their people ever dared to
venture to Keelwa; that the chief slave-trade on the east coast is
carried on. No doubt their fears were well grounded. These men received
nothing in payment for their three months’ journey, and, as no white man
had ever penetrated into their country previously, I fear that any
future traveller will meet with much inconvenience in consequence of
these poor people not having been paid.
“10. As I considered that my duty connected with the late Expedition was
limited to affording it all the aid and support in my power, I have felt
very reluctant to interfere with anything connected with the non-payment
of these men; but Said bin Salem and Ramjee having appealed to me, and
Captain Speke, since his departure from Zanzibar, having written me two
private letters, pointing out so forcibly the claims of these men, the
hardships they endured, and the fidelity and perseverance they showed,
conducting them safely through unexplored countries, and stating also
that the agreements with them were entered into at the British
Consulate, and that they considered they were serving the British
Government, that I deem it my duty to bring their claims to the notice
of Government; for I feel that if these men remain unpaid, after all
they have endured in the service of British officers, our name for good
faith in these countries will suffer, and that any future travellers
wishing to further explore the interesting countries of the interior
will find no persons willing to accompany them from Zanzibar, or the
opposite mainland.