Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

140 DHOW-CHASING.
their power to obtain possession of the other
islands, as we shall see presently ; and althongh
Johanna has been under British protection for
about thirty years, which has prevented their
monopolizing that also, it is wdthin the bounds
of probability, that the so-called Sultan of it
may be induced to withdraw his dominion from
our protection, and then there will be no difficulty
in the way of the French obtaining it.
If
it remain in our possession it would make a
good depot for liberated Africans.
There is a very extensive slave-trade carried
on to and from these islands, from the Portuguese
Settlements on the West ; indeed, it forms
the staple trade with them here, as it does everywhere
in the vicinity of the East Coast. A few
years ago, in consequence of the reports made
against the English Consul at Johanna ;
in reference
to his possession of slaves, his authority
as such was withdrawn from him : he still remains
on the island, and if reports be true, so
far as the slave-trade is concerned, with no great
credit to our nation.
The very high-sounding titles of King, Queen,