Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

APPENDIX. 299
299. " "What course would you recommend to
be adopted to put a stop to the increase in the
slave-trade?"— "I think the Arabs do not understand
forbearance at all; they put it down to
impotency ;
they think you are not in a position
to insist upon anything, and they misunderstand
the motive ;
in my opinion, the best plan would
have been to have adopted strong measures
towards the Sultan, and to have forced him to
a certain extent."
415. "Has the late or present Sultan, to your
knowledge, ever offered to sell or cede the
island of Zanzibar ? "— " No, never ; he on one
occasion said, ' If you go so far as to demand
the total abohtion of slavery, and the carrying
of slaves on my coast, you had better take the
island away from me altogether.' But that
did
it."
not mean that he would either give or sell
416. "Would a free settlement on the coast
tend to prevent the slave-trade, do you think ? "
— " I think so."
417. " Where would you suggest it should be
established ? "— " I
should think Monfia, to the
south of Zanzibar, between Kilwa and Zanzibar,
a very good place."
418. " What would be the cost of protecting
such a settlement ? "— "It would not be very considerable.
I think it would pay itself in the
X 2