The present ruler, or sultan, of the Comoro Islands, by name Alloué, is
the son of the late sultan Abdallah, before alluded to as having been
particularly kind to distressed Englishmen. He is a young man under
thirty, of moderate height, agreeable countenance, and easy, pleasant
manners. But his character is not distinguished for energy, and the
difficulties with which he has had to contend appear to have been
rather beyond his powers. His father, Abdallah, had made a treaty with
Colonel Farquhar, when governor of the Mauritius, by which he undertook
to suppress, by every means in his power, the extensive trade in slaves
which was at that time carried on at the islands which were under his
dominion; and he particularly distinguished himself by the zeal and
perfect good faith with which he carried out its provisions. Indeed, to
this cause, much of the subsequent difficulties of his family, and the
impoverishment of his people, seem to have been attributed.
In the latter days of Abdallah's life, he appears to have met with
sad reverses; and, judging from the documents which I have been able
to examine, it would seem that his determined resistance to the
continuance of the slave-trade raised up enemies against him, not only
in his own islands, but in the more powerful one of Madagascar, and on
the coast of Africa itself. It is certain, also, that he was at all
times favourably regarded by the government of Bombay, for his services
to the Company's ships, and, as an acknowledgment of his assistance,
a present was sent to him every three years, of a small supply of
arms and ammunition. Abdallah's death was, however, at length brought
about, after suffering numerous hardships, by the treacherous and cruel
treatment of an emissary from Madagascar, or one of the more than
half-savage chiefs of that island, into whose hands he at length fell.
This is not the place to enter at large into the subject of Madagascar
history; it will be sufficient to remark that the present queen of that
country is a most cruel and tyrannical sovereign; that she sets little
value upon the lives or blood of her subjects, and that she is supposed
to have poisoned her predecessor, the late King Radaman; further, that
she did not succeed in winning the throne without sacrificing most of
the chiefs who were opposed to her, and that she has since contrived
to bring under her subjection many who were formerly independent
governors, or chiefs, of the territory they severally occupied. Those
who take an interest in missionary enterprises will also have heard of
the dreadful cruelties she has exercised upon those unhappy men within
her territories, most of whom were barbarously put to death, some in
her presence, and partly, it is said, by her own hand. Only one or two
of them escaped from the island.
[Illustration:
CHART
Shewing the
TRACKS of the NEMESIS
W. H. HALL, R.N. COM^R.
1841.
Published by H. Colburn 13 Gr^t. Marlborough Street, 1845.
Isaac Purdy Sculp^t.
]
It was not unnatural, under these circumstances, that one or more of
the chiefs of the island should have taken refuge in the neighbouring
islands of Johanna and Mohilla. Accordingly, so long ago as 1828,
a chief, called Raymanytek, who had been governor of an important
province in Madagascar under the old king, and was said by some to be
his brother, came over to Johanna with about one hundred followers, and
represented to Sultan Abdallah, that he had made his escape from his
own country, through fear of the queen, who sought his life, (probably
he had tried to get possession of the chief authority himself,) and
that, as he understood the inhabitants of the Comoro Islands were
allies of the English, _as well as himself_, he came there to beg for
an asylum. There was something very suspicious in his story; but,
nevertheless, Abdallah received him in a very friendly manner, placing
a house and lands at his disposal, and shewing him other civilities.
Probably, however, entertaining some mistrust of his new visitor,
Abdallah sent an envoy to Bombay to make known the particulars of his
arrival, and to ask whether the government would feel satisfied with
his residence upon the islands under his dominion. He suspected, no
doubt, that the new chief might soon become a troublesome visitor, and
was anxious to endeavour to secure some further assistance from Bombay,
should he stand in need of it. It is likely, also, that he wished to
obtain some information respecting the character of Raymanytek.
From Bombay, reference was made to the government of the Mauritius upon
the subject, as being better acquainted with the political state of
Madagascar. In the meantime, the chief, not content with a residence
in the neighbourhood of Sultan Abdallah, went to the opposite or
southern side of the island, where he purchased a small native vessel,
for the evident purpose of trading in slaves. The little craft made
several voyages across to the coast of Africa; and, at length, Abdallah
remonstrated with him upon the subject, and informed him that if this
clandestine trade were not discontinued, he should make him leave the
island altogether. To this no reply was made; and still the vessel went
across to the coast, bringing back, on one occasion, nearly two hundred
slaves. Many of these were probably re-exported to other parts.
Abdallah hereupon ordered his disobedient visitor immediately to quit
the island, upon the ground that the slave-trade could not be permitted
within his territory, the more particularly as he was bound by treaty
with the English to prevent it in every way he could.
To this summons Raymanytek made no other reply than to bring all
his followers together armed, and, by means of bribery and fair
promises, to enlist in his cause some of the poorer inhabitants in his
neighbourhood, and also to arm as many of his negro slaves as he could
prevail upon, and who appeared trustworthy. Money seemed at all times
to be at his command, and he is said to have brought a well-filled
purse with him when he landed from Madagascar. With the force he had
now collected, he made an unexpected descent upon the capital of the
island, which, being unprepared, was, of course, unable to resist him.
The consternation was general, in addition to which, his money is
believed to have influenced some of the people to remain quiet.
Almost immediately the old Sultan Abdallah was deposed, and his brother
Ali took the chief power into his hands. Abdallah, with all the rest
of his family, left the island, with the hope of being able to find an
opportunity of reaching some English port, where he might represent
his case, and ask for assistance. He reached the island of Comoro in
safety; but what became of him afterwards, until he was ultimately put
to death with extreme barbarity, as before stated, I have hitherto not
been able to ascertain.
During this short interval, Raymanytek had been able to get possession
of the arms belonging to Abdallah, and which I have stated were
supplied every two or three years by the government of Bombay, as a
recompence for his friendly assistance when needed; and, having burnt
and ruined the greater part of the town, and completely destroyed the
crops and plantations in the neighbourhood, he embarked on board his
little vessel, and, taking with him all that he could conveniently
carry away of any value, he withdrew to the island of Mohilla, and
established himself there in a position easy of defence; all the
subsequent efforts of the rightful authorities to turn him out were of
no avail.
This man must have been supplied, by some means or other, with
abundance of ammunition; and it is not unlikely that his speculations
in the slave-trade, by means of his own vessel, may have supplied him
not only with money, but also with warlike weapons and ammunition.
It is well surmised, too, that he received assistance direct from
Madagascar at various times; and it must not be forgotten that the
nine or ten years which elapsed between the commencement of these
occurrences and the visit of the Nemesis was a period particularly
fraught with difficulties in relation to the traffic in slaves, and
that it appears _primâ facie_, highly probable that this marauding
rebel may have been strongly encouraged, and even aided, in his
attempts, by distant parties interested in the traffic. Indeed,
unless some assistance of this kind had been furnished to him, it is
difficult to see how he could so long have found means to maintain
himself.
The sultan applied for assistance on several occasions to the
government of the Mauritius, of the Cape, and of Bombay. The letter
of the young sultan Alloué, after the death of his father, in 1836,
addressed to the governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and to the admiral
of the station, asking for assistance, was a really pathetic appeal to
their good feelings. It detailed the horrors of poor old Abdallah's
death, and the violent acts of the invader; it related the defenceless
state in which he found himself on taking the reins into his hands;
and then appealed to British generosity, in return for the faithful
adhesion of his family to Great Britain, and the hospitality of his
people towards all British subjects.
The answer on that occasion was prompt, and worthy of the
cause--namely, "that in consequence of the difficulties in which the
sultan of Johanna was placed, and in consideration of the fidelity with
which the late Sultan Abdallah had fulfilled his engagements for the
suppression of the slave-trade, and the hospitality which he had on all
occasions shewn to British vessels touching at Johanna, the governor
and admiral readily yield to the earnest desire of the Sultan Alloué
for the aid of arms and ammunition, and send an ample supply thereof to
Johanna in one of his majesty's sloops of war," &c.
With this assistance, Alloué was once more able to make head for the
time against his enemy. But the country still continued in a very
unsettled state; and, as the assistance was only temporary, he again
fell into extreme difficulty, and addressed himself to the governor of
the Mauritius upon the subject. Sir William Nicolai, who was governor
and commander-in-chief of that island at that time, referred the
application to the consideration of the home government. But it would
seem that some little intrigues had sprung up among the sultan's own
family, which it is not very easy, and so far very unimportant, to
fathom.
The Sultan Alloué's uncle, Seyd Abbas, had about the same time sent
two young men, either his sons or nephews, to the Mauritius, to report
the unhappy state of the island, and to request assistance in support
of the actual Sultan Alloué. Not long afterwards two or three other
young men arrived at the Mauritius, also bearing letters from Seyd
Abbas to the same purport. As this man was thought to be well disposed
towards the English, and had been favourably spoken of by all those
who had visited the island, and as, moreover, his object seemed to be
the laudable one of trying to support the young sultan's authority,
even though without his highness's acknowledged sanction, it was
judged proper to maintain all these young men at the public expense,
until an opportunity should offer for sending them back again. After
the lapse of some months, a vessel was hired on purpose to carry them
back; and it was at the same time distinctly intimated that, "however
praiseworthy the intentions of Seyd Abbas may have been in sending
his own relations from home as political messengers, and however high
he may stand personally in the respect of Englishmen, it would in
future be impossible for British authorities to maintain political
correspondence with him or with any other person in Johanna than his
highness the sultan of the island." The sultan was further recommended
henceforth to give Seyd Abbas a share of his confidence in his
councils, in consequence of his age and experience, and the apparent
sincerity with which he espoused his interest; and, at the same time,
the young men were recommended to his notice as very sensible and
well-informed persons. The friendly interest and intentions of the
government towards the sultan and people of Johanna were then in
general terms expressed; and thus, with kind words and kinder hopes for
better days for his subjects, the young sultan was left for the present
to take care of himself.
It was only a few months before the arrival of the Nemesis that some
of the events which have been recorded had occurred. The Sultan Alloué
was still in extreme danger; and another letter was addressed by him
to the governor of the Mauritius, only about five months previously.
It appears to have been remarkably well written, and contains some
ingenious observations which, as being written by a young Moorish
prince, the ruler of an island in a remote corner of the globe, under
circumstances of great difficulty, it may be worth while to dwell upon
it for a moment.
He thanks his excellency the governor of the Mauritius for the kindness
he had shewn to the young men, whom he admits to be distantly related
to him; but shrewdly remarks that their "clandestine departure from
Johanna, contrary to his express orders, and during the night, had
given him reason to suppose that they were not quite so friendly
disposed towards him as they wished his excellency to believe: and
that he feared the object of their journey had been a pecuniary
speculation upon the governor's goodness and British hospitality." He
proceeds to express his thanks for being apprised that persons had
entertained political correspondence with English authorities without
his knowledge or consent; and adds, that, although he fully concurs in
his excellency's opinion with regard to the age and experience of his
uncle, Seyd Abbas, still there are many others in Johanna who possess
the same qualities, and whose attachment and loyalty he had _never had
occasion to doubt_.
The suspicion here betrayed is self-evident, and sufficiently
delicately expressed. The picture he then draws of the state of his
country is a pitiable one for a prince himself to be obliged to
depict--"The town burnt; the country ravaged; all our cattle killed by
the chief, Raymanytek, aided by natives of Mohilla, under his orders."
He distinctly intimates that the rebel chief was receiving "assistance
from the French;" and, although he does not state reasonable grounds
for the assertion, the statement is not altogether an improbable
one, considering that the abolition of slavery in the Mauritius had
roused the feeling of the French population against us and our allies:
and, moreover, slavery was still in existence in the neighbouring
island of Bourbon, where strong feelings against the English had been
undisguisedly avowed; while, at the same time, the difficulty of
procuring fresh slaves had greatly raised their price.
Intrigues were thought to have been carried on by the French traders in
Madagascar itself, where they have long attempted to obtain a footing,
but with little success, owing to the deadly nature of the climate. It
is, however, perfectly well-known that they are still anxious to strain
every nerve to establish themselves in some place eastward of the
Cape, in addition to the island of Bourbon, where there is no harbour
whatever, but merely an open roadstead. They are, moreover, anxious
to get some _point d'appui_ whence they may injure British trade, in
case of war, in that quarter; and, at the same time, by establishing
a little colony of their own, find some means of augmenting their
mercantile marine.
One of their latest attempts has been at the Isle Madame; and it is
perfectly well known that several other efforts have been made, and
still more talked about.
If, however, Raymanytek really did receive any foreign assistance,
it is not probable that it was with the knowledge or connivance of
the government of Bourbon, but rather from the restless enterprise of
private individuals interested in the slave trade. However that may
be, there seems to be very good grounds for our hoping that the Sultan
Alloué may be permitted to remain in the peaceable possession of his
own rightful territories. It is our evident interest to prevent those
fine islands from falling into any other hands, more especially now
that the intercourse between the West and East, through the Mozambique
channel, is likely to be more extensive than formerly; and that the
opening for legitimate commerce, within the channel itself, cannot but
attract the attention of British merchants. The trade in slaves will
become yearly more difficult, and, indeed, nothing would tend more
to cause its total downfall than the gradual extension, under proper
government protection, of the legitimate trade in British manufactures
along that coast.
The young Sultan Alloué further went on to declare in his letter that
numbers of his people had been captured and taken to Mozambique and
Zanzibar, where they _were sold into slavery_; and that several such
cargoes had already been sent over. He begged earnestly that assistance
might speedily be sent to him, in arms and ammunition, and that he
particularly stood in need of lead and flints, and a couple of small
field-pieces. At the same time, he entreated that some small vessel
of war might be sent to his aid; for that such were his difficulties,
that, unless speedy assistance should arrive, he feared that he should
be driven to abandon the town, and seek personally an asylum in British
India. He then appealed to the magnanimity of the British government,
in the hope that he and his people might not be compelled to abandon
their homes for want of timely assistance.[10]
Such, then, was the unhappy situation of the beautiful little island
of Johanna, as described by its own prince, only a few months before
the unexpected visit of the Nemesis. Little change had taken place;
the town still held out, but it does not appear that any assistance
had been sent to it. The very sight of the steamer gladdened the young
sultan's heart, and encouraged the people, who stood greatly in need of
it; the rebel chief being then at only a short distance from the town.
Late as it was, the captain and Lieut. Pedder landed in uniform to
wait upon the sultan at once, as their time was so limited. One of
his uncles and his prime minister received them, and accompanied
them through a few narrow streets, built in the Moorish style, to
the sultan's palace. At the entrance were stationed four half-clad
soldiers, with muskets, as a personal guard; and, on reaching the
reception room, the sultan was discovered sitting on a high-backed
chair, at the further end of the apartment. He immediately rose and
advanced towards them in a very friendly manner, welcoming them to
Johanna with a good, hearty shake by the hand. Two chairs were placed
on his left, for his guests, while, on his right, sat the governor of
the town, and several other of the principal people, all on the tip-toe
of expectation for the news from England, the more particularly as they
were in some hope that the strange-looking "_devil-ship_," as they
called her, might have brought a letter from the English government, in
answer to his application for assistance.
They were doomed, however, to be again disappointed; but the sultan
made many inquiries about the Queen and Prince Albert, and whether an
heir to the throne had yet been born, and seemed not a little curious
to know if the Thames Tunnel was finished. In short, he appeared to
be a very well-bred and courteous young man. He alluded painfully to
the distressed state of the island, and to his being surrounded by his
enemies under Raymanytek, and begged hard for at least a little powder
and shot, with which to endeavour to hold out until better assistance
could reach him.
As it was already quite late, the interview did not last long, but
promises were made to renew it on the subsequent day, and a party was
arranged for an excursion outside the town on the following morning.
Accordingly, at daylight, the party were again met by the king's uncle
on the beach, who appointed three soldiers to act both as guides and
guards. These men appeared quite pleased with the duty assigned to
them, and throughout the whole trip did everything in their power
to amuse the party, and to point out to them the objects best worth
notice; one man went in search of shells upon the beach, another
to procure fruit, and scarcely a wish was expressed that was not
immediately gratified.
Having ascended the hills on the eastern side of the valley, they were
gratified by a delightful prospect in every direction. The valley below
was rich and capable of high cultivation, but only partially cleared of
wood, and in other parts covered with long grass and low shrubs, varied
by the numerous wild flowers which were then in blossom. In the rear
were high and thickly-wooded mountains, picturesque in themselves, but
shutting out the view of the opposite side of the island, while, in
the other direction, the eye could trace the long line of picturesque
coast, giving altogether a very favourable impression of the character
of the island, the more particular as some of the timber is very fine,
and calculated for repairing ships.
The town itself could only be viewed from the top of a higher hill
behind it, which was now ascended, and its character well made out. Its
little white flat-topped houses and turreted walls, with very narrow
streets, pointed out its Moorish origin. But there was nothing to
render it otherwise striking.
The whole population appeared to be abroad, each struggling which
should gratify his curiosity the quickest, in running down to the beach
to catch a glimpse of the strange vessel, the like of which none had
ever seen before. Boats were seen crowding round her on all sides, and,
as she lay there, decked out with all her flags, the scene was both
animated and picturesque.
On descending the hill, the party were again met by the sultan's uncle,
who invited them to breakfast with his highness, and accompanied them,
first to his own house, where they met the sultan himself, and thence
to the palace, which was close at hand. But it was still rather an
early hour for a reception, and on entering the palace, it was very
evident that the preparations had not yet been completed for their
arrival. His highness's ladies, the sultana and her companions, had
only just time to make their escape, leaving everything in disorder,
and, in short, breakfast was not quite ready.
His highness was very condescending, but it was clear that his
attentions were being divided between two or more objects at the same
time, one of which was readily guessed to be the ladies fair, who
had so suddenly decamped. But this was not the only one, and, in the
little intervals between his exits and his entrances, an opportunity
was taken to ask his uncle, who was present, what it was all about.
The mystery was solved. His highness was condescending to superintend
the preparation of the breakfast for his guests, that it might be
worthy of them. The kitchen was on this occasion converted into the
council-chamber, and quite as weighty matters there discussed, and
certainly with equal warmth, and probably, too, with the full "ore
rotundo" of hungry eloquence, as are often treated of with greater
solemnity in higher conclaves.
The result, indeed, was worthy of the cause. The breakfast was
pronounced capital, and ample justice done, after the morning's walk,
to the wisdom of his highness's deliberations. He himself seemed quite
delighted, and his uncle declared to Captain Hall, in his absence, that
the young man's greatest pleasure was to contrive some new means of
gratifying the English who came in his way, and that there was nothing
he would not condescend to do for them, in his enthusiastic admiration
of the nation. A little of this might be said and done for effect,
but there has always been good reason to believe that he was on all
occasions a sincere, and, in some respects, useful ally.
The same day, a grand entertainment was to be given by some relation
of the Sultan's, in his uncle's house, in honour of the performance
of the first Mohammedan rite upon the young infant, his son and heir,
upon the eighth day after its birth. The sultan himself, with his chief
minister, accompanied them to see the festivities. On this occasion,
the ladies of the court were all found to be in the apartment adjoining
the reception room, and only separated from it by a large screen or
curtain before the door. Now, according to all the prescribed rules of
civilized life, it may reasonably be supposed that the fair damsels,
secluded as they usually were, had just as much curiosity to see the
lions of the day, the English officers in uniform, as the latter had to
catch a glimpse of eastern beauty, the more sought the more forbidden.
Every now and then you could see the curtain moved gently on one side,
and a young lady's head peep out; and then another would steal a quiet
look on the other side; then again, by pressing against each other,
more of them would be seen than they intended, but quite enough to make
you wish to see more still. In the meantime his highness had retired,
or perhaps they might not have been so bold.
As the gallantry of the sons of Neptune has at all times been famous,
so in this instance it innocently got the better of their discretion,
and, with an apparently accidental, though well-premeditated charge at
the curtain, which was most gallantly pushed on one side, a full view
of all the fair ladies was obtained, much more to the apparent horror
of the old uncle, who was a spectator of the achievement, than to that
of the fair damsels themselves, who, nevertheless, quietly retreated
in some trepidation. The ladies were all very handsomely and gaudily
dressed, it being a gala-day, but they were not altogether the most
Venus-like of beauties.
But a more curious scene was brought to view on being conducted to
another apartment, where a large and merry party of ladies of less
distinguished rank were amusing themselves with dancing and singing,
but certainly without much grace in the one or melody in the other.
There was only one good-looking female among the whole assembly, and
she appeared to be the queen of beauty, or mistress of the feast, for
she was treated with the utmost attention and deference by all the rest.
On returning again to the presence of the sultan, refreshments were
handed round, and, as the weather was hot, a whole train of the female
servants of the house were ushered into the room, each with a fan, or
sort of portable punka, in her hand. They were all very neatly and
cleanly dressed, and immediately set their fans most dexterously to
work, taking their stations behind each person of the party.
In the midst of this scene the sultan disappeared, followed by his
uncle, and, after a few minutes' consultation, the attendance of
Captain Hall was requested in his highness's private apartment.
Something important was evidently about to happen, but, before there
was much time to conjecture what it might be, he found himself alone
with the sultan. His highness frankly confessed the alarm which the
strength of the chief named Raymanytek had excited in his mind, that
he was even then not far from the town, and that he himself was
determined at once to march out against the rebels, if he could get a
sufficient supply of powder and shot. At the same time he begged that,
if necessary, he might have the assistance of the steamer to protect
his town.
Only one reply could be given, namely, that the visit of the steamer
was a mere casual thing, with a view to ascertain the nature of the
harbour; that the service she was engaged on would admit of no delay,
but that, as long as she was there, which could not be many hours more,
she should give protection to himself and his family, as well as to
the town, if in danger, and that a small supply of ammunition should
be given to him to enable him to defend himself. He appeared quite
satisfied, and pleased with the reply. At the same time, as the danger
was imminent, and much blood might otherwise be shed, he requested
that, since the orders by which the steamer was obliged to abide would
necessitate her immediate departure, the British flag might be hoisted
upon his citadel before she started, and receive the proper salute, in
order to intimidate the rebel chief; and further, that a letter might
be written to the latter, stating that the sultan of Johanna was an old
ally of Great Britain, and that the taking up arms against him could
no longer be permitted; in short, that he had, therefore, better take
himself off as quickly as possible, and return to obedience.
This was a request which demanded very serious consideration. It was
evident that Captain Hall had no authority whatever to interfere in
the matter. And such, consequently would have been the only reply of
many officers, perhaps most, under the same circumstances. But, there
was now something of humanity called into play, something of pity, and
something, perhaps, of pride. It was impossible not to feel a deep
interest in the unhappy position of the young sultan, more particularly
as he and all his family had on so many occasions behaved with kindness
and humanity towards Englishmen in distress. He had, moreover, stated
his positive wish to become not only the ally, but even the subject of
Great Britain, and that he would rather give up the island altogether
to the English, and, if necessary, retire from it elsewhere, than see
it in its then state of misery from the incursions of Raymanytek.
There was, in fact, something in Alloué's appeal, which was altogether
irresistible; and after much reflection, and well knowing the
responsibility incurred, it was agreed that the British flag should
be hoisted upon the citadel, under a salute of twenty-one guns. This
was accordingly done, and for the first time, the flag, which so many
millions look upon with pride, waved over the citadel and walls of
Johanna. The sultan smiled, and appeared to take far greater pride in
that unstained ensign, than in his own independent flag, or his own
precarious authority.
Great were the rejoicings of the whole people of the town; in fact, the
day had been one of continued excitement to all parties. To crown the
whole, a letter was written to the rebel chief, according to the tenour
of what has been stated above, and which, it was hoped, would induce
Raymanytek to retire peaceably for the present, and to defer to an
opportunity less favourable for himself, if not altogether to forego,
his treasonable designs, which had evidently been to depose the sultan,
and probably put him to death, and banish all his family, assuming the
whole authority himself in his place.
This had been a long and eventful day for the Nemesis, and while we
have been relating what was passing on shore, those on board had been
busy taking in water and wood for the immediate continuance of the
voyage. One thing, however, yet remained; the sultan was to visit
the ship, and see what to him were wonders. He came on board in the
afternoon, with several attendants, in full Moorish dress, and, of
course, evinced the utmost astonishment at the arrangement of the
ship, the machinery, &c. To him and his followers all was new. As they
steamed round the bay, their wonderment increased more and more at the
ease and rapidity with which she moved; and having partaken of a little
fruit and bread, and taken a most friendly and, to all appearance,
grateful leave of Captain Hall, and all on board, he was landed in the
ship's boat, with his own flag flying upon it.
On landing, he seemed quite overwhelmed with thankfulness for the
timely assistance rendered to him, and unaffectedly sorry at parting
with friends, he had so recently made.
On the afternoon of the 5th September, 1840, the interesting little
island of Johanna was left behind, with many good wishes for the
success of the sultan's arms, and for the speedy restoration of peace
and plenty to his harassed subjects. It is feared, however, that these
hopes have scarcely yet been realized.[11]
FOOTNOTES:
[10] The sultan very recently went up to Calcutta, to apply to the
Governor-general, in the hope that the Company might be induced to
take possession of the islands, which he felt he could no longer
hold without assistance. He merely asked for himself a small annual
stipend out of the revenues. What answer he may have received is not
known; but probably his application was rejected, upon the ground of
our territory in the East being already quite large enough. But, in
reality, the Comoro Islands, or at least a part of them, must be viewed
in a political light, as they may be said to command the _navigation_
of the straits, and are generally thought to be an object aimed at by
the French.
[11] The following letter concerning the fate of the Comoro Islands,
and the violent proceedings of the French in that quarter, appeared
in _The Times_ of January 30th, 1844. The facts stated in it have
every appearance of exaggeration, but the interference of the British
government would seem to be called for.
"The French have, within the last month, obtained, by fraud,
possession of the islands of Johanna, Mohilla, and Peonaro;
they had already, by the same means, obtained the islands of
Mayotte and Nos Beh. There are at present out here eleven ships
of war--the largest a 60-gun frigate; more are expected out, in
preparation for the conquest of all Madagascar; and also, it
is said, of the coast of Africa, from latitude 10 S. to 2 S.;
this portion includes the dominions of the Imaum of Muscat. At
this place (Nos Beh) a system of slavery is carried on that you
are not aware of. Persons residing here, send over to places
on the mainland of Africa, as Mozambique, Angoza, &c., money
for the purchase of the slaves; they are bought there for about
ten dollars each, and are sold here again for fifteen dollars;
here again they are resold to French merchant vessels from
Bourbon and St. Mary's for about twenty-five to thirty dollars
each. Captains of vessels purchasing these use the precaution
of making two or three of the youngest free, and then have
them apprenticed to them for a certain term of years, (those
on shore,) fourteen and twenty one years. These papers of
freedom will answer for many. It is a known fact, that numbers
have been taken to Bourbon, and sold for two hundred and three
hundred dollars each. Those who have had their freedom granted
at this place, (Nos Beh,) as well as others, are chiefly of the
Macaw tribe. The Indian, of Havre, a French bark, took several
from this place on the 20th of September last; she was bound
for the west coast of Madagascar, St. Mary's, and Bourbon.
L'Hesione, a 32-gun frigate, has just arrived from Johanna,
having compelled one of the chiefs to sign a paper, giving the
island up to the French. On their first application, the king
and chiefs of Johanna said, that the island belonged to the
English. The French then said, that if it was not given up,
they would destroy the place; they, after this, obtained the
signature of one of the chiefs to a paper giving up the island
to the French.
"I remain, Sir, &c., &c.,
"HENRY C. ARC ANGELO.
"Supercargo of the late Ghuznee of Bombay.
"_Nos Beh, Madagascar_,
"_Oct. 6th, 1843._"
The account given in the above letter is partly borne out by the
following announcement, which appeared in the _Moniteur_, the French
official newspaper, in March, 1844; the substance of it is here copied
from _The Times_ of the 14th March, and there can be little doubt
concerning the object of the French in taking the active step alluded
to. We must hope, therefore, that our interests in that quarter will
be properly watched, particularly when we remember what serious injury
would be inflicted upon the whole of our Eastern trade, in case of war,
by the establishment of the French in good harbours to the eastward of
the Cape. The announcement is as follows:--"Captain Des Fossés has been
appointed Commander of the station at MADAGASCAR, and Bourbon, which
was hitherto placed under the orders of the Governor of Bourbon. This
station now acquires a greater degree of importance. Captain Des Fossés
having under his orders _five_ or _six_ ships of war, will exhibit
our flag along the _whole coast of Africa_, and in the Arabian Seas.
He will endeavour to extend our _relations with Abyssinia_, and our
_influence in Madagascar_."