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No. 5.-Commissioner Johnston to the Marquess of Salisbury.(Received May 2.)

(Extract.)

Zomba, February 20, 1892. I Do not find myself able to come to a compromise about the Slave Trade. Domestic slavery I have not interfered with. I have said nothing on the subject. But the Slave Trade means the continual devastation of these wretched countries, and is utterly inconsistent with any form of British protection or administration. I am not necessarily referring to the slave-raids which go on in the distant west or in countries outside our boundaries, I mean the kidnapping and sale of people in the vicinity of Blantyre, on the banks of the Shiré, and above all on the shores of Lake Nyasa. Swahili slave-traders prowl round the very precincts of the Residency at Zomba with intent to inveigle Chiefs into selling their people or on the off-chance of picking up some unprotected woman or child in the bush.

Our plans, chiefly elaborated by the late Captain Maguire, for arresting slave-caravans in the Shiré district and at the south end of Lake Nyasa, have resulted in the release and return to their homes of between 300 and 400 people, and the destruction of five slavedhows on the lake has naturally limited for a time the transport of slaves across Nyasa; but these actions are not pleasing by any means to the Arabs and Yaos, the Mahommedan element in fact, of Nyasaland.

I begin to despair of these Mahommedans. I have long hoped against knowledge that the Arabs and Arabized natives of Central Africa might come to see that there were honest means of livelihood just as profitable as the Slave Trade; but whatever wavering there may have been during 1889 and 1890, when Major von Wissmann's stern treatment of slave-traders on the coast scared away for a while the slave-caravans and deprived them of their market, in 1891 and at the present time there would seem to have been some obstacle removed from the slave-trader's path, and the transport of slaves from Nyasaland and Tanganyika has again locally assumed formidable dimensions. Since the month of October last we have checked the Trade between the south end of Lake Nyasa and the River Ruo, but at the cost of making all the Nyasaland Mahommedans consider the advisability of rising against us and driving the British away. Again and again I have striven to show the Arabs that the cultivation of ground-nuts, coffee, sugar, or the breeding of cattle or donkeys, would prove quite as lucrative as the Trade in Slaves, while these agricultural or pastoral pursuits would certainly be superior in comfort and safety. I have even hinted that the recently cap tured people would be more profitably employed as cultivators in

e Arab settlements of Central Africa than by being transported great risk to an uncertain market on the coast. But I think ere must be some inherent love of cruelty and rapine in their spositions, as well as a great restlessness. They are not content > become colonists and settle down in Nyasaland, making their omes there. Their settlements are more like camps. The only pparent exception to this description is Jumbe's country, which ertainly is something approaching to a settled, cultivated land. Yet even here there are disintegrating forces at work. Jumbe himself s becoming weary of the effort of controlling the turbulent Arabs and Mahommedan Yaos, whom he calls his Captains ("Akida”). When he dies there will be a great outbreak of the Slave Trade in that district.

I could afford to disregard Arab disapproval, and fearlessly continue the suppression of the Slave Trade; I could also complete the chastisement of Makanjira, keep Jumbe's people and the Karonga Arabs in order, if I had one thing-an armed steamer on Lake Nyasa, a vessel better fitted for attack and defence than the Domira, and one which could transport easily 100 men. With a ship like this I could steam from end to end of the lake in four days, could land a force of soldiers unexpectedly at any point, could police the waters of Nyasa and prevent the transport of slaves, or ivory which has not paid export duties; for it may be imagined that people who do not fear to trade in slaves do not much concern themselves with conforming to our Customs Regulations.

The steamer would fulfil many useful purposes for the Administration and the South Africa Company, besides policing the lake. It would be able to transport the administrative and commercial employés of the South Africa Company to and fro on the lake, convey stores to the various stations, and carry the mails; it could even accommodate at times other passengers, and might earn, in short, enough money to pay for all its working expenses, besides Baving the Administration the present serious cost of relying for its transport on Lake Nyasa on the African Lakes Company.

Without placing a steamer on the lake, we can do little more towards stopping the Slave Trade on Lake Nyasa than by issuing strongly-worded expressions of our disapproval to the Arabs, which will scarcely stop the passage of dhows across the lake, or restrain the malcontent slave-traders from attacking Karonga or Bandawe. The Marquess of Salisbury. H. H. JOHNSTON.

No. 6.-Commissioner Johnston to the Marquess of Salisbury.(Received May 2.)

(Extract.)

Zomba, February 25, 1892. I REGRET to have to inform your Lordship that I have just received news of an unfavourable character from Fort Johnston.

Your Lordship will no doubt remember that I reported my return thence to Zomba after having, as I considered, satisfactorily settled present difficulties. I had left the fort well garrisoned and well supplied, and I placed Mr. King (formerly Collector of the Lower Shiré district) in charge. I gave Mr. King strict orders to remain only on the defensive, and to attempt no further action of an offensive kind against our enemies.

Nevertheless, for some reason not yet made evident-perhaps because our forces had just been increased by 100 Angoni warriors from Tshikusi-Mr. King suddenly decided to attack Zarafi's stronghold in the hills behind Fort Johnston. He took with him Quartermaster Inge, Dr. Watson, thirty-five Sepoys, about thirty Zanzibaris, a few Makua porters of our own, and a number of native porters, and the 100 Angoni; also a 7-pounder cannon. His journey to Zarafi's was practically unopposed, and he entered the town without resistance; but the town itself was little less than a trap. No sooner were they within its inclosure than the enemy swarmed on the heights above, and poured down a pitiless fire on our men. The native porters and Angoni all ran away. Mr. King and Dr. Watson were both wounded, five Sepoys and one Zanzibari were killed, and four more Indians slightly wounded. A retreat was decided on, and carried out without further loss, except in the way of baggage and arms. Owing to the flight of the carriers, some boxes of Snider ammunition and the 7-pounder had to be abandoned, after the latter, ably worked by Quartermaster Inge, had served to cover the retreat.

These are the details which have been communicated to me up to the present time in letters from Dr. Watson and Quartermaster Inge, and I am unable at present to ascertain the reason of Mr. King's undertaking this expedition against my orders and without previous intimation to me. A Zanzibari bringing the letter states that some time after I left, Zarati descended from the hills and made another slave-raid. Whether this was the cause of Mr. King's attack on his stronghold or not I cannot say. Certainly it will need some very exceptional and critical condition of affairs to exonerate Mr. King from blame for taking the offensive without my sanction.

I am now sending Captain Keane, R.N. (temporarily staying with me at Zomba) to the lake, to Fort Johnston, with reinforcements, and to take command and report to me on this ill-timed and

entable affair. If necessary, I shall again proceed to Lake sa myself; but I am exceedingly anxious to first finish my unts (now very much overdue), and complete the settlement of land question, before again absenting myself from Zomba.

I am anxious to assure your Lordship that I am not pursuing a icose policy in attempting to suppress the Slave Trade along the er Shire and on the south end of Lake Nyasa. I am not, that is say, contemplating any Quixotic or expensive crusade against very throughout British Central Africa; but what I am forced do is to put down slave-raiding and trading along our narrow and ecious line of communication between the Shiré and Tanganyika, cause if I allow these nefarious pursuits to continue, I am posing this line of communication to constant and dangerous erruptions, and I am denying protection to those who have the llest claims to our support, since they obey our laws, follow our unsels, and contribute by a mild taxation towards the expenses of wernment.

The Marquess of Salisbury.

H. H. JOHNSTON.

No. 7.-Commissioner Johnston to the Marquess of Salisbury.(Received May 2.)

Telegraphic.)

Zomba, March 8, 1892. I HAVE just received further news from Fort Johnston. The reason why Mr. King attacked Zarafi was because this latter, assisted by a large slave-caravan from Kilwa, had once more begun making slave-raids against the people of the Shiré district. But few Indians and one Zanzibari are reported killed. King was wounded and five others of our men.

Fort Johnston will be placed under the command of Captain Keane, whom I have dispatched thither He has received strict orders not to take the offensive. Thirty-two men were killed on Zarafi's side, among whom were seven or eight of the Kilwa traders, Barghash, bis Swahili Councillor, and Khamisi, his brother. Although he had driven back our troops, Zarafi has retired to the hills without having attempted to follow up his advantage.

Reports from Keane, dated the 3rd March, say that everything was satisfactory at Fort Johnston, and that loyalty of Mponda remains unshaken. Excepting at the south-eastern extremity of Lake Nyasa there is no trouble anywhere else in the district; every where else there is peace, and trade is increasing.

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No. 8.-Commissioner Johnston to the Marquess of Salisbury.(Received May 2.)

(Telegraphic.)

Zomba, March 21, 189:

I HAVE received following from Fort Johnston:

Letter has been received from Zarafi asking for peace, and pr mising to cense slave-raiding. Mponda and Jumbe have addresse letters to leading Nyasa Arabs, in which they inform them th they have come to a definite decision to stand by the Englis Three messengers have arrived at Zomba from Kazembe to announ that that Chief adheres to this policy. A new Chief has be elected by Msamara's people, who have begged me to grant hi recognition and present him with a flag. I have done so, and I promises to keep the Treaty made with the late Msamara. Capa Keane states that people are once more settling on and building ( the districts in the country of Mponda now that there is son security against slave-raiding, and he reports very encouraging on affairs on the Upper Shiré. The fact that Zarafi and Makanju have exhausted their powder supplies and have dispatched caravan to buy more at Kilia and Quilimane is the chief cause of this favou able change.

No. 9.-Commissioner Johnston to the Marquess of Salisbury.(Received May 2.)

(Telegraphic.)

Zomba, April 8, 1892 LETTERS from Captain Keane, dated the 27th March and 4tl April, report very satisfactory state of things on Nyasa Lake 3,000 men placed at his disposal by Angoni Chief Tshifisi, and Mponda. These irregular forces he dispatched against Zaradi ani the Kila slave-traders, who were forced with heavy loss to retire across the eastern frontier. The Magwangwara, in large numbers, at the same time made an attack on Makanjira's, and drove m from the shore of the lake.

Captain Keane speaks highly of the help which Mponda anl Jumbe afforded him, and two of the Nyasa Arabs have contracted to supply the materials for building the Fort Johnston barracks.

Captain Sclater also is at Lake Nyasa, beginning the road whe is to run to Zomba from Fort Johnston.

Dr. Watson and Mr. King have recovered, and resumed their work.

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