The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-24
THE EAST AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
Sir Bartle Frere's Mission-Its Progress
and Plan Of Operation.


From the Calcutta Overland Mail, Feb, 14l
We see from the Bombay papers that Sir Bartle
Frere and his stan reached Zanzibar on the 10Th
ult., and had an audience with the Sultan on the
following day. Having acquainted himself with
the object OF the mission, the Sultan called con-
ference OF the Arab chiefs, who were to assemble in
three days, and consult on the matter. 1t was
thought inevitable that the Chiefs who are entire
ly dependent on the slave trade for their living,
ton as that demanded by the mission; and in this
opposition they would be backed by the sympathies
or the mercantile community and the population
generally. Trade in Zanzibar was said to be quite
paralyzed since the arrival OF the mission. The
slave trade, however, was going on unchecked, and
in the most unblushing manner under their very
eyes. An American sloop-of-war, the Yantc,
which had been sent to cooperate with the mis-
sion, was in the harbor. and o grand dinner was
to have been given by the Sultan to Sir Bartie
Frere on the 18th.
The conclusion suggested by the above facts
seems to be that to abolish the slave trade IL may
not improbaby be necessary either TO compensate
the chiefs engaged in the trac as well the Sui
tan OF Zanzibar, or to place substantial aid at the
disposal Of the latter for coercive purposes.
The sultan gets the amount OF the Muscat sub.
sdy in exchange for the profits he will lose, and If
that Is an equivalent he may accept the terms
offered him. But the most powerful section OF the
Sultan's subjects have larger interest at stake
sati0n it seems not unlikely that they will look at
the matter in different light In short, It Is not
only the Sultan whose acquiescence is required to
put down the trade, and II his cooperation is to
be anything more than an empty name he will
have to accept the risk OF a conflict with his own
accept such role; and even II he beth likes and
dsres to accept u, he probably has not the power
to carry IL cut. No doubt we could put at his dis
posal abundant force to compel the obedience Of
his people, But are we prepared to do what would
be tantamount TO military occupation or Zanzibar,
and what would At least be NEST expensive I'M
dertakingY And, II we are, is the Sultan likely
to ask for or willingly submit TO, such an Occu-
pationS One thing so far, Is certain, viz, that
the advent Of the mission has not had the least
effect in overawing those engaged N the trade.
II the attempt to suppress the trade should
not lead to the political anarchy that proba-
Bile. social anarchy and widespread distress must
inevitably be among the primary results of It's sue
cess. The entire community OF Zanzibar Is more
or less concerned in the traffic which the chief
source Of it's wealth. As regards means Of car
riage, even the legitimate commerce Of the place is
largely dependent on the slave trade and, though
it Is quite possible that the suppression Of the lat
ter may hereafter lead indirectly to the opening up
Of new sources OF commerce, 1t will be long time
before this can happen, and in the meanwhile a Sc
rious mercantile crisis and decay OF trade must
supervene. All these are OF course minor consd-
eratons compared with the one great object in
view but they cannot be left out OF account in
reckoning the cost. One item in the burden we
have taken upon ourselves may not 1npossibly be
ZanZiDAr Starvation Relief Fund.