THE SLAVE TRADE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2114, 21 October 1890, Page 4

THE SLAVE TRADE.

The Zanzibar correspondent of the Times, writing on August Ist, states that the Sultan has issued a decree, directed against the status of slavery throughout the Zanzibar dominions, which has taken the whole public by surprise, and of which- it is- impossible to overrate the r importance,whether as immediately and immensely ameliorating the. social* status of •slaves,or as affording s particular solution of the whole question of eiayer/ throughout the Zanzibar dominions. The degree, which contains nine clauses, has been placarded in the town, under the: Multan’s seal, in Aarbic and English. Similar copies have been sent by the Sultan to all the foreign consols. The main provisions of the decree are to the following effect — • he exchange, sale, or purchase of slaves, domestic or otherwise, is absolutely prohibited from to-day. Any houses hitherto kept for this purpose are for ever closed. All slavebrokers excercising their occupation are henceforth liable to severe punishment and to deportation. Any Arab found trafficking in domestic slaves will be liable to similar punishment. Anv houses used in future for

such traffic Will Be &rfrtd?* death of their ! present" 5 owner V '-slaves shall, i ipiso /acid, free- ‘ htilees r fthe : deceased 1 leave'lawful ' BbilclrenV :I Whb‘ ! alone' maW ( inh‘ei’it/themr : 5: BlaveW’cati not be : Willed 1 Way; tor 1! #6l d a 'after* the death of the own er. The ill-trCathieht? | of slaves or the possession- of . ra w slaves or domestic slaves 1 acquired after the date of the .decree will . entail severe punishment on the offender and the forfeiture of all his slaves.* Any Zanzibar l - Subject marrying' 1 or married to a persOii under * Birtish, jurisdiction is henceforth disabled from possessing slaves. * - All slaves- of such persons are now* declared ’ free; « Nofreed slaves are in any circumstances to possess a slave. Every slave is to have the absolute right henceforth to purchase his freedom at a “ reasons!) le* pricer The “Sultm" bindS‘"hiWs‘tflf "“W accerd special protection to such slaves j and to all slaves freed Under the decree or otherwise:^ ? Eyfery slaVd ia to have the same rights W the Arabs to prosecute complaints iu courts of justice. As far as can be gathered, the Arabs-haye generally accepted this trenchant blow at the status of slavery with'> resignation; and composures They probably understood that some such ! similar' - measure - or general emancipati jn was inevitable in view of theWtrorig BngHsh infldencetbat'einhe some months has been paramount atZanzibar and of the European occupation of the coast-line. i fit is a matteto of general belief that the decree is mainly due to the initiative and inl fluence of the British' Coasul-Ghneral, but in any case the Sultan cannot be too highly praised for so fearlessly taking upon 'himselfj l after so short a reign, the responsibility‘Of issuing a decree which to a large number of his most influential subjects cannot but be intrinsically distasteful-. : Within a very few years indeed slavery must Have ceased to exist in the Zanzibar dominions, and this without too great a shOck to Arab feelingsand interests;*