The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-14
Its Chief Market To Be Closed by,
the Joint Action Of Eng
p land and America.
Palpable Results Of the LabOrs Of Stan
: ley and Livingstone '
Another Stronghold Of Human
Bondage To Be Destroyed.
Something About What Arabian
8 Slavery is Like. 7.


gsa I'D ca "a ae t SOB
London Press Comments Upon Living
stones Letters to the Herald.
In the London Times Of Monday, as we were in
formed by cable telegram publishedn yesterdays
HERALD. there were some editorial comments In ref
erence to the announcement by the Queen, In her
Propagation Speech, that steps had been taken Ito
prepare the way for dealing more enectually with
the slave trade on the East Coast of Africa" This
welcome news, said the Times was the most signif
cant part Of the throne speech, when read In the
light recently thrown upon the subject by Mr. Stan.
ley and by the dispatches he brought from DR.. Lv-
ingstone. Thus II will be joyfully realized by all
friends OF freedom and humanity, who have for years
ardenty longed to see this plague-spot removed
from the face Of the EARTH that at last the English
people are determined to take enective action and
put down this hideous trafac in human nesn and
blood at any cost. As will be seen also nom what
follows, Americans win have an equal share in car
rying out this benencent reform,
WHERE DO TIE SLAVES GO To9
But the question OF slavery on the East Coast of
Africa Is as yet by no means generally understood.
Tell an ordinarily well-informed man that the slave
trade OF Zanzibar has tens Of thousands of victims
every year, and then ask him what markets absorb
these enormous consgnments Of living merchan-
disc. and he will be sorely puzzled. A few thou
sands no doubt are taken to Cuba, but the vigil
and comparatively but little followed business.
And 1t cannot be too clearly pressed upon the
attention Of the public that the great bulk of this
traflic Is done with the petty Arab kingdom or Sui
tanate, or whatever else you may choose to call
it-for 1t is sort OF nOndescript government-of
Oman or Muscat under the sanction OF treaties
made by that Power with England France and
America, which practically precludes any efYectua
interference to end this shameful commerce in
human bondsmen. 1t may further be stated that
the Queen, in that cQpfdent and hopeful paragraph
in her SPEECH certainly makes an alluson to & plan
for the abolition Of the trade, in which the co.
operation Of the United States has been asked and
granted, and for the proper carrying out Of which
measures have already been taken by Mr.. Secretary
Fish. sS ~
SOMETHING ABOUT MUSCAT.
TO appreciate the difficulties surrounding this
question: 1t is necessary to give brief sketch OF
the recent history Of Muscat. twenty-five years
ago that little Power, under the sway Of an excep.
tionaly able Sultan, prospered greatly In influence
and wealth, and included not only its present ter
rtory the shore Of the Persian Gulf but also the
land of Zanzibar. At that time, indeed, she prom
ised to become one Of the most civilized Of the
minor Asiatic States Presents were exchanged
with most Of the Great Powers, and their counsel,
In diplomacy and their teaching in all the useful
arts were solicited with an ardor very much more
sincere than that which inspires the viceroy OF
Egypt or the Sultan of Turkey when they make q
progressive" speech on the eve Of issuing new
loan. Thus it came about that England, France
and America cheerfuly entered into these now OBJ
nOxious treaties Of commerce with so enlightened
government
A CHAPTER OF ANARCHY.
But twenty years since the good Sultan died, and
his kingdom fell into state Of anarchy, which has
ever since been deepening in confusion, and which
has ruined the lands which his wise sceptre was re-
deeming from poverty and ignorance. One of his
sons, who had held the post Of Governor of Zanz
bar, proclaimed himself Independent Of the other
son, who seized the throne OF Muscat and after
years OF wrangling and intrigue, with now and then
dash Of open warfare, was confirmed in his usurp-
alton by the British government. The new ruler Of
Muscat was, after few years of power murdered
Dy his son. who In his turn gave way to religious
fanatic by the name Of Azan bin Ghes. Azan bin
Ghes died year and half ago, and Thoweynee, a
brother Of his predecessor, has succeeded him.
THE SLAVERY CLAUSE IN THE TREATIES.
During these latter evil days q certain clause in
the treaties of commerce has been found to be
very serious source of trouble. Slavery Of certain
mild type, such as will be described below, has pre-
vailed in all Moslem lands, OF course from time i'm
memorial, and Muscat chiefly drew its supply Of
bondmen from Zanzibar Under the old Sultan the
trailc was conducted with very humane provisions
and as 1t was impossible to hope for anything but
gradual abolition of the institution, the various
civilized Powers agreed to clauses being inserted
in the treaties permitting the transportation of
thor
being exacted that such slaves should be for the
bona tide consumption Of Muscat, and should not be
re-eXp0rted to Persia and Mesopotamia aud thus
n0rthward and westward all over the Turkish En-
pre and into Central Asia. While the old Sultan
lived his influence was successfully used to carry
out this contract In good faith but In the troubles
that followed his death the smuggling OF slaves
through this open gate has been freely INDUCED In.
II has also been found to be utterly impraccable to
stop the abuse while the Old treaties are main.
tanned. An English vessel OF war has constantly
been kept cruising about the Persian Gulf but IL
could not, Of course, overhaul every little trading
dhoc, and even when = Cried to do so its interven-
ton has been but rarely of any use. The traders
seldom ventured upon importing cargo
of slaves and nothing else, but distributed
this kind Of merchandise through the entire trading
marine of Muscat and Zanzibar. Nearly all these
native vessels are worked by slave sailors and
nothing be easier therefore, than to elude the
inquiries Of the British ocers by representing that
the new importatons are part Of the legitimate
crew OF the vessel. But even this excuse was more
than was necessary. Legally, 1t is sufficient to
secure exemption from seizure to Make
q declaration that the slaves are the
property Of subjects OF the Imaum OF Mus
cat and are intended for their sole use, and
will not be re.exported from that place to any Of
the other ports on the Gulf Practically, therefore,
the slave trade In this direction is free as air.
PROMPT ACTION TO BE TAKEN