Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

348 APPENDIX.
could a mass of freed slaves be properly and
advantageously dealt with for the first five
years of their freedom, and a settlement of
this nature on the coast, would be a break
in the land route, that will at once be opened
when the sea transport is prohibited and
blockaded.' "
23. " AVhat is the approximate annual export
of slaves from the dominions of the Sultan of
Zanzibar ?" — " We estimated it in our Keport at
about 20,000 a year, but it may be more. I
was looking at Dr. Kirk's returns, in which he
says, as I understand him, that between 1867
and 1868 the Sultan got 270,000 dollars for
his tax upon slaves ; if that is the case, that
amounts to about 56,000Z.; we only calculated
it at 20,000L a year on 20,000 slaves."
24. " You suspect that the number would be
double?"— "Yes, upon that calculation; but I
am not quite sure whether Dr. Kirk included in
that the sale of slaves as well as the tax ;
you
can safely take it at 20,000, it certainly is not
less."
25. *' Have you any reason to doubt the statement
made by Dr. Kirk, and confirmed by Dr.
Livingstone and the Rev. Mr. Waller, that four
or five lives are lost for every slave delivered
safe at Zanzibar ?" — " I have no reason to doubt
it, and the hardships the slaves encounter