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Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

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58 DHOW-CHASING.<br />

is the southern limit of tlie dom<strong>in</strong>ions of the<br />

Sultan of <strong>Zanzibar</strong> (or of the Imaum of Muscat<br />

as he was then), and therefore no slave-trade<br />

was legal where we were.<br />

<strong>The</strong> " legal trader's slave-trade " sounds<br />

paradoxical, but though it always appears to<br />

have existed, it is only latterly that there has<br />

been any attempt to recognize it, with<strong>in</strong> certa<strong>in</strong><br />

limits, as a legal proceed<strong>in</strong>g, and yet it is by<br />

far the most extensive of the three.<br />

As regards<br />

the two former there can never be any dispute.<br />

By " legal trader's slave-trade " is meant<br />

that trade carried on <strong>in</strong> the coast<strong>in</strong>g dhows<br />

which are engaged legally <strong>in</strong> convey<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

produce of the country : ivory, copal, hides,<br />

rice, and corn, and <strong>in</strong> illegally smuggl<strong>in</strong>g a few<br />

slaves on board, or as many as they can stow<br />

conveniently with the least possible risk, but<br />

which have no licence or authority for convey<strong>in</strong>g<br />

them even <strong>in</strong> <strong>Zanzibar</strong> territory, where<br />

it is possible to obta<strong>in</strong> such licences. <strong>The</strong><br />

negoda (i. e. capta<strong>in</strong>), whether he be owner or<br />

not, purchases a few slaves at the first port<br />

he puts <strong>in</strong>to, and <strong>in</strong>creases their number at

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