Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

372 APPENDIX.
967. Mr. Grim,-Eiui7ig.'] "After they were
manumitted, did not tliey remain with Colonel
Fraser of their own accord ?" — " I am not sure
about that ; I know at the' time it was a great
scandal."
970. Sir B. Anstruther.] "Independently of
humane considerations, are not you of opinion
that commercially it would be well worth our
while to make an outlay for the purpose of
suppressing the slave-trade, and putting a stop
to this depopulation of large tracts of country
which is now going on ?" — " I cannot speak too
strongly upon that point ; a great part of the
east coast of Africa is useless for any purposes
of commerce at present. Of export you may
say there is nothing except a few hides from
the northern part, where the Somalis are in
power, slaves, ivory, and a little gold-dust;
nothing else comes from the interior. I have
no doubt were the slave-trade stopped a very
large trade with Europe might spring up at
Zanzibar, because the produce from the eastern
part of Africa must inevitably come through
Zanzibar. Zanzibar would become a second
Singapore or Kurrachee for that part of the
world, more especially now the Suez Canal is
opened; and, I think, it should be our pohcy
on all considerations to try and get a
stop put
to this horrible loss of life; commercially it