Chapter 282 The “Progressive” Sultanate of Zanzibar

Chapter 282 The “Progressive” Sultanate of Zanzibar

October 17, 1870.

Zanzibar Island, Palace of Curiosities.

The Exquisite Palace stands at the west end of Stone City and is part of the Sultan Palace. This magnificent building has 40 thick columns, and 60 slaves were buried alive under each column.

The old Said passed away last year. With the support of the East African Kingdom, the young Said became the new monarch of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The young Said is very clear about his ability to position himself, that is, to continue to maintain Zanzibar. The political normality of the Sultanate will suffice.

"Minister Lemons, what do you mean by this! We Zanzibar people rely on the slave trade to survive. If the slave trade is cancelled, to be honest, I don't care, but the ministers and businessmen below But I won’t agree. If I agree to your country’s conditions, I can step down.” Said Jr. complained to Lemons, the East African Minister in Zanzibar.

"Your Excellency Said, please don't get me wrong. It is not our East African Kingdom that forces Zanzibar to abolish the slave trade. This matter is essentially for the sake of Zanzibar."

Taking a sip of coffee from an Oriental tea cup imported from the Far East by the royal family of Zanzibar, Lemons continued his analysis slowly: "Nowadays, Europe is increasingly banning the slave trade, especially Britain and France. It is the executor. We in East Africa don’t care much about the attitude of slaves, but we can’t influence the public opinion in Europe. Your country must have felt it in recent years. The British have recently become more and more vigorous in inspecting the slave trade in the Indian Ocean. big."

Little Said sighed and said: "We also know this, but the people below will not give up the huge benefits of the slave trade. This is related to the livelihood of tens of thousands of Zanzibar people, and even I, the monarch, cannot control it. If the thoughts of my subjects run counter to the thoughts of the people, I, as a monarch, will have come to an end!"

"Don't be anxious, Mr. Said. Generally speaking, East Africa is very clear about the national conditions of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and we will not make it difficult for your country. We in East Africa have prepared a plan for you in this matter." Lemons He spoke.

"Oh! I wonder if your country has any good ideas?" Said asked curiously.

"First of all, the slave trade must not continue to exist. Find a time recently to announce the legality of the abolition of the slave trade. First, declare the abolition of slavery from the legal level of the Zanzibar Sultanate."

"This matter can be done, but is it just in name?"

"Of course not! Since we want to abolish the slave trade, we naturally have to put on a full show. Of course, I don't mean to really abolish the slave trade, but to make the methods of the slave trade more high-end and covert." Lemons explained.

"I don't know how to do it!" After hearing that Lemons didn't really want to abolish slavery in Zanzibar, Said was relieved a little.

"The first point has just been mentioned, to abolish the slavery system at the legal level, so that the Zanzibar regime is not legally a slave country. The next step is to package the original slave trade. The slave trade has been boycotted by various countries, but Hiring workers is legal. All slave trading groups under the control of the Zanzibar Sultanate must convert slave trade into legal labor export companies. In foreign exchanges and business activities, they emphasize that they are "domestic laborers" who go abroad to earn money. Get foreign exchange.”

"If that's all, don't worry, Mr. Lemmons, we can still do it." Said Jr. said.

Lemons shook his head and said: "Things are not that simple. Since it is a labor export, the slave ship will no longer exist. You must improve the living conditions of the "labor" transport ship, and we do not force you to do a good job. , at least based on past experience, these "laborers" must have relatively decent clothes and a certain amount of space to move before going to the Middle East, and they can no longer be squeezed into small shelves like goods."

Hearing this, little Said was in trouble: "Mr. Lemmons, not to mention other things, the cost of clothes alone is not a small amount of money, not to mention giving slaves more space, the number of slaves on a ship will also increase." If it decreases, you will earn less money, and the slave traders will not agree."

Lemons said: "Clothes can also be used repeatedly. Just give the slaves a set of clothes from Zanzibar to the destination, and then take them off when they arrive. They can be used again next time. It doesn't cost much. As for the volume of slave transportation It’s better to make less money and make less money than to be caught by other countries and unable to do business!”

"You are right about this, but the slave trade is a spontaneous behavior of merchants, and they also have to calculate the cost. I am afraid that many people will not implement it properly, especially the system of our Zanzibar Sultanate, which leads us to treat these traders It’s not very binding,” Said Jr. said.

It would be nice for the Sultanate of Zanzibar to receive some tax from these slave traders, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar itself is involved in the slave trade. The royal family is the beneficiary of the slave trade, which means that the Sultanate of Zanzibar The top leaders of the country are the largest slave traders in the Indian Ocean.

Lemons said with a smile: "Your Excellency Said, as long as the Sultanate of Zanzibar can supervise the execution of its own citizens, it will be fine. The slave trade is a hugely profitable industry. You guys don't make much at all. Just buy some clothes for the slaves." It doesn’t cost much, and we in East Africa can help you with this by providing mechanized-produced clothes for just the cost price.”

"That being said, Zanzibar nationals have flexibility. They can be Zanzibar citizens, but they can also be Omani citizens, or even Ottoman citizens. It is difficult for us to define their status. How can we supervise them?" Xiao Sai Yide asked rhetorically.

"This matter is easy to handle. Learn from East Africa in establishing a household registration system to determine the identity of Zanzibar citizens. If you don't agree to become a Zanzibar citizen, don't force it. But if something goes wrong, you will shift the responsibility to other countries. Both Oman and Ottoman are fine. But the bad news is ahead. We will assist you with this household registration system. Don’t try to be clever." Lemons said.

"Household registration system?"

"Yes, issuing identification documents to residents can effectively screen the behavior of your Zanzibar nationals at sea."

"I guess the ministers will not agree to implement it." Said Jr. shook his head and said. He did not think that his subordinates would accept this suggestion.

"It is the will of the East African Kingdom to implement it even if it is not implemented. In order for these plans to proceed smoothly, our East African Kingdom will strengthen the garrison strength of the Zanzibar Sultanate. At the same time, because of the British ship seizure incident a few days ago, we believe that Zanzibar The current situation in the Sultanate of Bar is somewhat dangerous. For the strategic security of the East African Kingdom, the national defense of the Zanzibar Sultanate will also be included in the military defense system of the East African Kingdom."

Having said all this, East Africa's true intentions have been revealed. Zanzibar Island is related to the strategic security of the East African coast. Naturally, it is impossible to allow Zanzibar Island to stay outside the East African defense system.

Little Said's face was a little ugly, but he held it back. In fact, East Africa has always had troops stationed in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and it was just near the palace. There were only a few hundred people, but little Said would not joke with his own safety. .

"I wonder how your country plans to strengthen the military garrison in Zanzibar?"

"The important ports and strategic locations on Zanzibar Island are all included in this plan. We will increase the number of troops to 3,000. At the same time, the forts and other forts will also be taken over by the East African Artillery Force." Lemons read out. East African decision.

"Then...okay! We fully accept the East African Kingdom's decision." In the end, little Said couldn't stand up.

Lemons smiled and patted little Said on the shoulder and said: "Don't worry, East Africa has strengthened Zanzibar's defense force mainly to deal with foreign countries, not against the Zanzibar Sultanate itself. In the past, Lao Sai Yide is an old friend of ours in East Africa, and we in East Africa still support the rule of the Zanzibar royal family."

Lemons gave little Said a reassurance, which was also a verbal commitment to the continued existence of the Zanzibar Sultanate.

…

October 21, 1870.

After Lemons gave "friendly" persuasion to Zanzibar's domestic ministers, the Zanzibar Sultanate agreed to all the East African Kingdom's demands.

On the same day, the Sultanate of Zanzibar issued legal provisions, completely announcing the abolition of slavery and all slaves gaining free status. At the same time, the Sultanate of Zanzibar would no longer engage in slave trade, and prohibited official and private slave trade in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. .

At the same time, East Africa also began to plan the defense work of the Zanzibar Sultanate, integrating Zanzibar Island into the East African defense system, increasing the number of troops stationed on Zanzibar Island, and rebuilding the port's defense fortifications.

As for the slaves in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, after they were freed again, they signed employment agreements with their former masters. At the same time, a large number of registered "labor companies" appeared in the Sultanate of Zanzibar the next day, nominally serving the Middle East and other countries. Provide labor services in the region.