The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-11
THE EAST AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
from the London Globe.l


porting the particulars OF his intercourse Win INC
Sultans OF Zanzibar and Muscat Sir Bartle frere
confirms the general correctness OF the account
given In the report OF the committee OF the house
OF Commons as to the extent and character OF the
East African slave trade, as far as the domin'ohs
OF the sultan OF Zanzibar Is concerned, put ados
that there are other branches oil the East ATicah
slave trade (which appear to be extensive in'
creasing, and quite fatal TO human life as lhe
slave trade through Zanzibar" Sir Bartle frere
proceeds
There Is a general concurrence in the testimony
OF all well-inlormed and unbiased witnesses that
there is still an active ana EXTENSIVE, anu SONY
slaves by various land routes nom the axe REGIONS
and the northwest frontiers OF Aby sslnia north
WARDS to Egypt aud the cpasts oil the Mediter-
ranean ana Red sea. The Trade IL Wen orguAized
well supplied with capital and well managed by
their slave caravans according to Information col
lected in Egypt, where, by securing Tie support OF
the inferior officials, they are able TO dispose oi
their slaves with inpunity. The greater number
OF these slaves are required Tor domestic service
in Egypt Itself, where the demand has largely IN
creased with the increase anu general dihusion oI
wealth; but many are exported, III small NUMBERS
at a time, to- TurAey, syria and ARABIA,
and the North African coast. similar
trade appears always to have existed, ana 10 be
stii carried on by various desert tribes between
TripOl &c The Egyptian demand supplied by
slave hunting On the upper waters OF the Nile and
ITS tributaries IN districts which are changed rom
the abundance Oh available and defenceless popu-
latlOn may invite aggression, or It's determination
have exhausted the supply. The process oil collect
ing cafila OF slaves and conveying them north
ward has been often described with ali its horrible
and disgusting details, and could find IN the tes-
Umony Ol credible dis.nteresLed and competent
Witnesses no reason TO doubt the general ndeity
oI the published accounts oil lis characteristics
few slaves are occasionally recruited by purchase
from parents, guardians or petty local rulers a
sun smaller proportion are taken IN satisfaction
OF debts; but the greater number are got in
a
view TO slave hunting. sometimes the trader
avails himself OF intertriba quarres, and by sup
plying one Size with arms and ammunition
enables 1T 10 defeat It's rivals and ensave the sar-
vivors and receive payment III the slaves SO ac-
CURED. occasionally the trader In quar- tiers not
much visited by travellers or troublesome officials
makes razzlas on his own account; but the COM
parauve ease and security OF the other process
agents are men o. various nationaltles and often
OF broken or desperate fortunes, who are III able to
live IN any laW-aDidng or civilized community;
but these men get the means OF carrying on the
trade from merchants with high claims to respect
ability. Indeed, have been assured that ali the
trading between the foreign merchants who i'm
ports or exports goods ut Alexandra and me
0S1 retail dealers in Africa saye
deanng and taking slaves IN payment Tor
large proportion OF the merchandise they send
Egypt there Is large ana increasing trade through
the ked Sea ports some are brought to Massowah
occasionally from the upper aftuents OF the Nile,
and sometimes by sea from the south. From Mas
sowan and Its neigabOrhoOd they are sent as OPP
pOrtun1ty O1erS, nOrtnWafuS To Lower Egypt, 1ur-
Key &c, or across the Red sea to the HedJaz and
Yemen The southern ports, including those Just
outside the straits OF Babel-Mandeb the Somari
ports OF Zeiia, Iaura, &C., which were formerly
comparatively Tree from the slave trade, and with
the rulers OF whichw have agreements binding
them to engage IN the trade have OF late years
become regular and considerable slave marts to a
degree which renders them impatient or the pres
ence OF travellers, whom they Deleye to be likely
TO denOunce the slave trade to the British au-
thorities ut Alden. 1t is said that the facilities
afforded to slave trading by the Ottoman nag were
fharv ..ltnn hnI amt nf
those places when the Turkish nag was lately
hoisted there. However that may be, the name OF
Abu Bekr, chief OF Zeila has OF late become mia
| nous throughout the regions IN the neghborhood
OF the Red sea, Tor having reduced the slave trade
from Ze.la ana IaJura 10 systematic monopoly.
Not one, 1t Is SAID, can move along any oil the
rouets leading to ShOa and Southern Abysslnia
without the leave OF Abu Bekr. All the trade is
kept In the hands OF himself or his connections,
ana the slaves, VINO form the most valuable pOr-
ton OF the EXPORTS are monopolized by him. The
slaves are many OF them Gaas and Abyssinians,
OF mixed Christian and Mosiem race and generally
lar SUPERIOR intellectually as well as physically, to
the ordinary negro slave. Ihey are s0ld as Chris.
tians to MOslem purchasers, and as MOslems to
Christians FROM this coast also come, 1t Is SAID,
most OF the eunuchs employed Ia the harems OF the
higher classes, and the loss OF lie caused In sup
plying the market Is much enhanced by the neces-
sary operations.
the cause OF civilization and the suppression OF
the slave trade have undoubtedly greatly suffered
in Northeastern Africa by our neglect OF ADys-
snia. We have had 1T in our power TO advise and
assist II not to direct, both Egypt and the various
Kingdoms OF Abyssinla IN their intercourse with
eacn other, to the great mutual benefit OF all
substantive interest in the prosperity OF both
countries, we are free from suspicion OF desiring
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The tate of Abyssna
can never be matter OF indifference to us as long
as we desire an uninterrupted passage to india by
the Red Sea. We may shut our eyes TO its
Importance whilst 1t Is torn by intestine divisions,
parcelled out amongst barbarous petty chles, and
destitute OF seaport But the case will be lar
ruler, or pass under the influence of
maritime Mediterranean Power. already
aaa su an tbs as c %aS
any day happen without the Khedive being in
voved in attempts to subdue the highland chiefs, q
task which he would find as unnecessary as 1t Is
dinlcult. Besides the weighty political cOnsidera-
tions connected with its possible bearing on our
Indian highway, Abyssinia is sure, sooner or later
to attract European sympathy owing to the nomi-
nal Christianity OF the people; and it Is more tnan
probable that an influence which Egypt might have
exerted for good In many ways may be checked by
an unreasonng dread lest the most ancient OF
Christian Kingdoms should be absorbed into Islam.
Yet with all these motives for a constant and intel
ligent interest in Abyssinla, Tor the last twenty
years we have, Systematically neglected the
nerved by some ecclesiastical dispute or by
the energy OF some outlying Englishman, we
have interlered but never In manner to rem.
der our designs or wishes Ineligible up to the
time OF war. The war was mainly due, not as Is often
asserted, to our meddling and interference, but
to our neglect and inattenton. Alter our lnnu-
had been at great replaced on the footing
1t ought never to have lost, we LETT the country
prey to anarchy and confusion. Egypt and Turkey
have since then been the only Powers which affected
the slightest practical interest III the country, and
they are not In position to be recognized as i'm
partial arbiters OF the late Of Ethiopia. The posi-
ton OF Abyssinia bears In many ways on the East
African slave trade. At present great portion of
her border is slave hunting ground, or ground for
Egyptian, Gala and other neighbOrs, and the we'll
favored Ably ssinan Christian slave is to be bought
In Caro- Constantinope, Mecca, Zanzibar or any
other slave mart in the East. Abysslna retaates,
and, in spite OF the protested Christianity OF the
rulers and people, slavery Is everywhere the lot OF
large proportion OF the population, ana the slaves
other Mosem tribes, even more cruel than those of
the Arab slave hunter. All this might be greatly
mtgated, If not prevented, by exercising the legt.
innate, the inevitable influence of the English ana
Indian governments No costly expeditions or es-
adjustments required, but simply the occa-
sional visits OF well-chosen and competent Con-
sular officer, VINO upon the slave trade and other
questions affecting the country could speak with
authority and weight and offer the good offices OF
powerful and not unconcerned, but diSinterested,
ally both OF Abyssinia ana its neghbors.