uganda protectorate - Palgrave Connect

More documents

Recommendations

Info

10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesman's Year-Book, Edited by John Scott-Keltie 198 THE BRITISH KMJ'iliK :—KAST AFRICA ligcnt, civilised Bagauda, a race converted to Christianity by British and French missionaries. About 1,700,000 natives speak Bantu languages ; there are a few pygmies or Congo dwarfs living near the Semliki river ; the rest of the natives belong to the Masai, Nilotic, and Sudanese groups. The fauna and flora are the richest in Africa, and are divided in their affinities between East and West Africa. The soil is very fertile,'except in the Rudolf region. Iron is found everywhere, copper in the Central province, gold in a few places. The chief commercial products are ivory, timber, rubber, and cattle. Trade is in the hands of two German firms and one British; and is also carried on to an increasing extent by British Indians, Persians, and Arabs. The local revenue for 1900-01 is estimated at 40,0007. It is raised in part by the native hut and gun taxes. {special Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief.—Sir Harry H. Johnston, K.C.B. Deputy Commissioner.—-¥. J. Jackson, C.B. ZANZIBAR PROTECTORATE Sultan and Government. The Sultan, or more correctly, the Seyyid, Hamoud bin Mahomed bin Sai'd, about 44 years of age, nephew of the late Sultans Ali, Khalifa and Burghash, succeeded to the Sultanate on the death of Seyyid Hamed bin Thwain on August 27, 1896. He was one of two claimants, and was selected by the British Government as being the most fitting. Zanzibar dominions were gradually acquired by the Imams of Muscat at various dates between the years 1698 and 1807, partly by conquest from the Portuguese and partly from native chiefs. They were held as an appanage of Muscat until the death of Seyyid Said, when, on a dispute as to the succession arising between Seyyid Thwain, of Muscat, uncle of the present Sultan of Zanzibar, and Seyyid Majid, of Zanzibar (both being sons of Seyyid Said), the dominions in Africa were made independent of the present State, and confirmed under Majid by an arbitration of Lord Canning (dated 1861), then Governor-General of India. Besides the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and smaller islands, the Sultan's authority nominally extended along the coasts and indefinitely inland, from Warsheikh, in 3° N. lat., to Tunghi Bay, in 10° 42' S. lat., his influence, however, being exercised but a little way from the coast, except along a few trade routes. As mentioned above, the Sultan's dominions were gradually restricted in area between the years 1886 and 1890, until they finally included only the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. In October 1891, a regular Government was formed for Zanzibar, of which Sir L. Mathews is Prime Minister. All accounts are now kept in English and Arabic, and are always open to the inspection of the British Agent and Consul-General, and no new undertakings or additional expenditure can be incurred without his consent. On February 1, 1892, Zanzibar was declared a free port, and it remained so until October 1, 1899, when a 5 per cent, ad valorem duty was imposed on all imports. Area, Population, Religion, The island of Zanzibar has an area of 640 square miles, and Pemba 380 square miles. The population of the island is estimated at 150,000, and that of the island of Pemba at 50,000. There is a considerable foreign population, mostly engaged in trading. There are about 50 Englishmen, 50 Germans, a few Americans, Frenchmen, Italians, Greeks, and Roumanians, the two latter nationalities being under British protection. There are also about 7,000 British Indian subjects, through whose hands almost the whole trade of Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - Trial Access - PalgraveConnect - 2014-03-13
10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesman's Year-Book, Edited by John Scott-Keltie JUSTICE—FINANCE AND COMMENCE 199 Zanzibar and of East Africa passes, directly or indirectly. The town of Zanzibar has a population estimated at 30,000. Mohammedanism is the religion of the country, most of the natives of the coast and islands being Sunnis of the Shaft school, though many are heathen ; while the Sultan ami his relatives are schismatics of the Ibadhi sect. There are Christian missions (Church of England, Wesleyan, Independent, and Roman Catholic) on the island anil far into the mainland. There is a French hospital at Zanzibar, attended by French sisters of mercy, and a hospital at the Universities Mission. Sir Tharia Topan's hospital for Indians is completed, but is not yet in use. Justice. Justice among the Sultan's subjects, whether accused or defendants, is administered by various 'Cadis.' By a declaration signed December 16, 1892, the Sultan delegated to the British Agent and Consul-General his right to try all cases in which a British subject is plaintiff or accuser, and the defendant or accused is a Zanzibar subject or the subject of a non-Christian state without a treaty. The British Court has also jurisdiction over all slaves originally freed by her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General, but as the legal status of slavery was abolished on the 6th April, 1897, the relations between master and slave are no longer recognised by the Tribunals. The judges of the British Court form an appeal court from the chief court of the East Africa Protectorate, and there is a further appeal from them to the Privy Council. To the British Court also pertains admiralty jurisdiction with reference to the slave trade, and it is a naval prize court, by virtue of the Zanzibar (Prize) Order in Council, 1888. There is a regular army of about 900 men, including police, under the command of General Kaikes. Finance and Commerce. The revenue of the Sultan was mainly derived from customs dues and taxes on produce, chiefly cloves. Under the new arrangement wt h England the Sultan's privy purse, which will be kept separate from the general revenue of the country, has been fixed at about 120,000 rupees annually, and the remainder of the revenue will be devoted to the charges for police, harbour improvements, and public works. All the public expenditure must receive the sanction of the Sultan and the British Agent and Consul-General. The value of imports and exports and the tonnage entered in recent years are stated as follows :— Years Imports Exports British Shipping entered Total Copyright material from www.palgraveconnect.com - Trial Access - PalgraveConnect - 2014-03-13 1897 1898 1899 1,399,078 1,555,070 1,596,606 1,189,668 1,497,883 1,513,407 Tons 75,013 91,269 103,457 Tons 245,368 286,209 324,961 The figures include the trade between the port of Zanzibar and other ports in the Sultan's dominions. The chief imports and exports and distribution of trade were as follows in the last two years :—
Page 1: 10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesm
Page 5 and 6: 10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesm
Page 31 and 32: COMMERCE AND COMMUNICATIONS 227 Com
Page 47 and 48: FINANCE 243 REVENUE. Customs . Exci
Page 49: 10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesm

uganda protectorate - Palgrave Connect

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?