The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-04
aAVE-TRADE HORRORS
Flourish Without Interference
in East Africa.
SIGNS OF AN AWAKENING
Civilized Powers Can Stop 1t
If They Will.
SIGNS OF AN AWAKENING

British Viee-Consul for Portuguese pos
sessions, IN East Africa, writes the follow
ing to the Tribune:
We hear and read great deal today
about south Africa, and an altogether ex-
ceptional interest attaches to that great
problem involving the consolidation Of the
British colonies with their numerous off,
| shoots and dependencies-a task likely 10
engage the attention Of both the ex-
| ecutiye and the colinists themselves for
many years to come; but of that older
| and far more intricate problem, the sup
| preston of the slave trade We hear COM
parativey nothing, and 1t may be ques-
toned whether, Notwithstanding ali that
has been said and written on that subject,
its real horrors and the degradation and
misery which 1t has spread abroad that
vast continent will ever be sufficiently ap-
| preciated and brought home TO us.
At the moment when the most civilized
nations of Europe are endeavoring to ex-
tend their dominions and colonize a new
world in Africa, advices lately to hand
from the east coast remind US that this
infamous traffic is again springing up with
labor increasing today to a pitch seldom
If ever before attained. That in spite of
treaties. swift cruisers, and other inter
ventions the slave population today is
fully three times as large as it was ten
years ago. The Arab has, in short, out
witted US, and his agents. flushed by sue
cess and doubtless embroidered by the re-
cent apathy and Indifference of those re-
sponsible for the enforcing Of those laws
which have been so carefully enacted for
the purpose have succeeded in establishing
regular system of transport in order to
supply the prosperous and fast-increasing
Glove plantations of the Islands Of Pemba
and Zanzibar with labor. This form Of
traffic. now that no legalized form of
transport enables large ventures to be
cloaked under the guise Of lawful trade
and conducted as It IS principally at night
across a narrow channel. has all the ele-
ments Of a smuggling trade and Is one
most difficult for English and German
gurfboats to deal with.
Although 1t is nearly nine years since
these islands became protectorates Of the
British crown. we find instead of progress
a retrogression on the part If that execu-
tive in dealing with the negro labor prob
lem. Every Arab who owns estates in
either of the islands has the right to send
slaves to work on them and Is given a per-
NIT by the Zanzibar government for the
purpose. This. needless to say, is contrary
to the law, which expressly forbids the
transport Of slaves by sea and as a direct
result of such infringement It Is computed
that fully 1000 slaves are thus being an
nually supplied to these markets.
In the northern end OF Lake Nyassa es-
pecially have the Arabs been reassrtins
their supremacy lately. and one hears Of
slave caravans being freely shipped across.
This would sound simple news in itself,
but there are those today whose duties in
that country have frequently led them to
be unwilling witnesses of horrible cruelties
practfCed by the Arab slave-hunters upon
their helpless captives. and to them the
statement conceals n grim and ghastly
story behind IL.
A single short Illustration VIII suffice:
In one caravan. in which there were
about 800 slaves in wretched condition, was
a gang of lads and women chained to-
gett1er with iron neck-rings and in n horri-
BILE state, their lower extremities coated
with dry mud and torn with thorne, their
bodies a mere framework. and their ekele-
ton limbs slightly stretched over with
wrink1ed parchment-like skin. One
wretched woman had been flung against
tree for slipping her rope. and came
screaming for protection with one eye half
out and the side of her face and bosom
streaming with blood. Beyond washing
her wounds no interference with the cara
van was attempted. although the tempta-
ton was strong one 20 cast all adrift
and give them a chance Of starving to
death peaceably IN the woods.
TIE present state OF the interior OF Afri- |
ca may he summarized as one of simple !
barbarism. and. until law abolishng the |
legal status Of slavery and deprivfng the |
owners Of the right 10 reclaim their slaves !
Is carried into force. there IS not likely 10 |
be any falling OF IN the trade. Admitting |
that much good work has been accom- |
plashed on both sides Of Lake Nyassa |
lately. and especially hy the Bagamoyo /
Mission and others. the present active de- !
mani for slave labor will only cease with |
the abolition OF the legal right OF owner |
ship. While It 5 evident that the develop |
mert OF Africa mainly depends upon negro |
labor. this systematic deno1Ula;ir- OF I
some Of lie richest parts and transferring /
her youth and manhood as slaves % Arb /
whims and plantations is scarcely the way
TO accomplish -. and Il uEq1estio,a5!y he I
hooves those nations who have the most |
interest AZ stake in that country u take /
active measures and best calculated TO
establish the negro laoor market on a more /
humane and sound basis Fortunately
signs ara not wanting that the present
conditions cannot prevail much longer /
and that a new era Of freedom IS daw1ing
At last.
The wide wave OF civilization that Is
now oveTspreadinS Africa IS bound sooner
or later 10 swamp slavery n the form
that it exo<ts ;sere today. With Eng
land steadily advancing her line in the
south and with the well-equipped expcii-
tioss now serving under British French.
and Belgian fisgs IN the wet; the march
Of progress IS becoming general one.
But Il * 20 the east coast more particular
h that efforts should be the most c0iiecs-
lively directed Il the work % Save suppress
sion is ever 70 succeed again as Il formerly
lid under the active ard nGai guidance
% such men a. Livingstone, Kirk. EltOn-
ard others: for the ess; cast y every
where contiguous with the vast interior.
while the facilities afforded BY the exte7-
slve territory Of Zanzibar are bo,h grea;
ard exceptional. Its fertile lake districts
and rich interior are being rapidly opened
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