and feeble garrison, of scarcely more than a couple of
hundred men , either black or creole seapoys. There
120 MOZAMBIQUE .
are likewise two other smaller forts upon the island ,
which may therefore be considered strongly fortified,
although more indebted to the past than to the present
for the importance which, at first view , it appears to
possess.
The public buildings of Mozambique all bespeak the
value of the settlement to its possessors, in the days of
Portuguese maritime distinction. The governor's palace
must have been, in its best days, a residence worthy of
an influential ruler. It is built of stone, is of conside
rable extent, and has some fine rooms in it ; in fact, it
speaks much for the importance attached by the Por
tuguese, in former times, to their eastern possessions.
The large stone wharf, built on handsome arches, with
the fine Custom House, in a sort of square at the ex
tremity of it, clearly point out the ancient commercial
value of the settlement: ; withered at last, perhaps,more
by the paralyzing effects of the slave-trade, than by any
natural decrease in the commercial capabilities of the
east coast of Africa .
In short, the city has retrogaded into comparative
insignificance ; the number of resident Fortuguese has
become very inconsiderable, with the exception of some
Canareens or creole Portuguese, born in other Por
tuguese possessions in India, and, though commonly
called white, are only so “ by courtesy ,” being often
quite as black as the true Indians. Bad government and
moral deterioration have added not a little to the other
causes of its downfall; and it will scarcely be credited
that a distinct law has been passed, that those who
were married should be compelled to remain there, or,
MOZAMBIQUE. 121
at least, not return to their own country. The effect of
so extraordinary a measure has been , that nobody is
disposed to get married at all ; and so low a tone of
moral feeling has come to prevail, that people live toge
ther in perfect amity, without any matrimonial or moral
ties, and with little feeling of shame at the absence of
them .
I have dwelt a little upon these particulars concern
ing Mozambique, because it is the principal of all the
Portuguese settlements on that coast ; and if, as such ,
it has fallen so far from its former state, we may judge
how the others must now be lingering on between life
and death . The fatal influence of the slave - trade ap
pears to paralyze the whole commercial traffic of the
country ; the natives, being reduced to mutual distrust
of each other, and continually living in fear and poverty,
are unable to purchase the comforts of foreign manu
factures. The selling of slaves is almost the only profit
of the chiefs, unfitting them for every other enterprise,
and deadening within them every feeling of honour and
every hope of improvement. A universal stagnation
seems to hang over the mind of man, as well as over the
productions of the earth. Were it not for the industry
of the Arab population in the neighbourhood, a perio
dical famine would inevitably occur. At the present
moment , the whole of the Portuguese possessions , along
the Rios da Senna, do not supply even enough grain for
their own consumption . Yet the country is a remark
ably fine one , capable of producing luxuriantly all the
fruits of the earth , and, were it cleared and cultivated ,
would become habitable even for Europeans , through the
122 MOZAMBIQUE.
improvement of its climate ; yet, there is much land
now neglected and barren, which was once highly culti
vated .
The slave -trade is, in fact, a worse pestilence to the
country than even the fever itself ; and Mozambique,
Quillimane, Delagoa Bay, Sofala, and Inhamban, are
all fallen .to the lowest grade of civilization. If you
ask the simple tale of history, what has been the effect
of Portuguese rule upon that coast, you will hear nei
ther of savages reclaimed , soil improved , commerce ex
tended , justice and mercy practised , nor Christianity
taught. One single cloud seems to have blighted the
germ of every improvement in its very bud ; and the
blight of slavery has poisoned every leaf on which it
rested .
Nevertheless, as a place of call for refreshment, for
ships passing through the Channel, Mozambique has
some claims to attention. Abundance of vegetables and
fruit are to be obtained there ; pigs and goats are readily
to be purchased , as well as poultry ; and, were the de
mand for bullocks larger, they would soon be brought
to market in numbers. At present, however, they are
very dear.
But the great treasure of the place remains yet to be
developed ; at all events, the subject is well open to in
vestigation . The existence of good coal in that neigh
bourhood is now, I believe for the first time, made
public. There is reason to expect that it will be found
in large quantity , and of good quality , although as yet
the search for it has not been carried on to any great
extent. The all-engrossing subject of the slave-trade
DISCOVERY OF COAL.
seems to darken every other object of attention in that
quarter, and the Portuguese are probably afraid that
the discovery of coal in their settlements would occa
sion the continual visits of so many steamers and other
vessels, that even greater difficulty would be thrown
in the way of the traffic .
Just as the Nemesis was leaving the harbour, the
captain of an English merchant ship, the only one there
at the time, brought off a large piece of excellent coal
for inspection. It had all the appearance of coal per
fectly adapted for steaming purposes ; it was stated to
be found at Quillimane, (the settlement before alluded
to) about three hundred miles to the southward of Mo
zambique, and that there is every reason to believe it
might be procured in large quantities, and worked
without difficulty. This specimen was sent to Eng
land for examination ; but it has since been ascertained
that it was not fortunate enough to reach its desti
nation . This is on all accounts to be regretted. It
was sent down to the Cape of Good Hope from Mozam
bique, in a box , with directions that it should be for
warded to the India House, but was probably lost, or
set aside at the Cape.
If further investigation should prove what is here
stated to be correct, there can be no reason for not
searching for coal upon other parts of the coast ; and
under any circumstances, as Quillimane is so short a
distance from Mozambique, the coal might easily be
brought up to the latter at little expense ; and, if it
were to become a more frequented route to India, it
would be desirable to moor a large coal-hulk off the
124 SCOURGE OF THE SLAVE - TRADE .
town, in which a constant supply of coal could be kept
ready, and which could be taken in rapidly, and at little
expense, by a steamer running up alongside of her.
But the Portuguese, unfortunately, seem quite blind,
even to their own interests ; and they cannot perceive,
that if they could work coal-mines, they would employ
a large population, circulate wealth throughout their
territory, and attract a considerable and improving com
merce to their port. But then their slave -trade would
be ruined : and they are not even wise enough in their
own generation to perceive, that out of its very ashes
would gradually spring up the healthy and vigorous
plant of commerce, upon an extensive scale, not only
with foreign parts, but with the native tribes of Africa.
These, however, are now continually desolated by the
scourge of war and slavery. But they would soon learn
to value peace and peaceful arts, and the taste for new
articles of manufacture would grow gradually into
wants, and wants in course of time give birth to the
wish for luxuries. Far above all the profits of the
traffic in human beings, would then become the fruits
of wholesome trade ; the country would advance, in
stead of being driven back ; and the welfare ofthe com
munity and of the government be simultaneously pro
moted .
New regulations respecting trade would in the first
instance be indispensable, as at the present time the
commandants or little governors of all the minor Portu
guese settlements are themselves allowed to trade, and
often are the principal, or in a manner the only, mer
chants in the place. This alone must destroy all
THE COMORO ISLANDS . 125
healthy competition, the soul of commerce. But, were
trade placed upon a proper footing, and coal likely to
become an article of demand, it would easily be ex
ported to the Cape, Mauritius, and up to Aden for the
Bombay steamers, and to numerous other parts, in which
the demand for coal is yearly increasing, and likely to
become almost unlimited.
I have here rather assumed that coal will be found in
large quantity, than proved it ; but sufficient has been
said to point out the great probability of its existence
upon that coast, in more places than one ; and the ques
tion involves such important consequences, that it de
• serves the fullest investigation.
It was at one time thought that coal would be found
in some one of the Comoro islands before alluded to, at
the northern extremity of the Mozambique Channel;
and the Nemesis was directed, at all events, to touch
there on her way , for the purpose of inquiring into its
eligibility as a depôt, and place of refreshment for
steamers .
The distance of the nearest of the Comoro islands,
Mohilla, from Mozambique, is scarcely two hundred and
fifty miles ; and from thence to Johanna, which is the
principal one, and the place of residence of the sultan
or ruler of the islands, is about thirty miles. Johanna
lies as near as possible in the middle of the Channel,
between Madagascar and the mainland of Africa, just
where it widens into the open sea.
The Nemesis took her departure from Mozambique
on the evening of the 1st of September, but did not
reach Johanna until the afternoon of the 4th, having
126 JOHANNA .
made nearly the whole distance under sail only, against
a very strong south -westerly current.
The island of Mohilla is, of course, the first seen, and
strikes you by its lofty, wooded summit, and the nume
rous small islets which surround it to the southward.
The Channel between Mohilla and Johanna is pictu
resque, and the high inland mountains every where pre
sent aa rich and refreshing appearance, covered as they
are with luxuriant wood, and broken occasionally into
deep glens, marked by the usual rich tropical verdure.
Johanna is the most frequented of all the islands, and
affords the best anchorage. But it was quite dark be
fore the Nemesis approached the bay, and an occa- .
sional blue light and a rocket were let off, to give
notice of her approach , in order that a pilot might come
off, or else a signal be made to direct her to the best
anchorage.
A large fire was soon lighted on shore for this pur
pose ; and, no sooner did she come within a moderate
distance, than numerous boats came alongside ; the
natives jumped on board, in apparent delight at seeing
her come in, not unmixed with extreme surprise at her
appearance, and the mode in which she moved through
the water. Several of them spoke broken English, and
although they were naturally delighted at the prospect
of earning a little money, they were even more so at
the sight of her armament, and at once concluded that
she was sent purposely to assist the sultan and the
people of the island, who were at that time in great
danger and trouble .
Johanna is occasionally frequented by English ships,
JOHANNA . 127
for provisions, which are there abundant and reasonable,
and the people have become favourably known in Eng
land, in consequence of their kind treatment of nume
rous poor English seamen, who have from time to time
been wrecked on those islands, or on the neighbouring
coasts. The great bay, which is on the northern side
of the island, is not, however, a very suitable anchorage,
except, perhaps, during the S. W. monsoon . At all
times, there is a very heavy surf rolling in shore ; and,
during the N. E. monsoon, which sets directly into it,
the heavy swell renders the anchorage unsafe. It
cannot, therefore, be considered at all eligible as a
coal depôt for steamers, particularly when Mozambique,
which has greater claims to attention, is within such a
moderate distance. Still, it is a very useful place of
refuge for our whaling ships in that part of the world ;
and, as the inhabitants, as well as the authorities, have
always shown great kindness to the English, and, in
fact, consider themselves almost in the light of allies of
England, it would seem politic to keep alive the good
feeling they evince toward us.
The inhabitants of these islands are principally of
Moorish origin, nearly all Mohammedans, and they wear
the turban and loose dress which belong to no part of
the neighbouring coast ; and a dagger or pistols in their
girdle are by no means uncommon . They have a genuine
old English or Arab mode of shaking hands, with a
gaiety of manner by no means unpleasing. Their fea
tures are regular, and well formed , and their com
plexion, though dark , is very different from that of the
inhabitants, either of the neighbouring continent, or of
128 THE SULTAN ABDALLAH .
the island of Madagascar. In short, it is evident, that
they were originally emigrants from some distant part,
probably Arab traders, although their appearance has
become modified in the course of successive genera
tions.
These islanders appear to be rather favourites of the
different men -of -war and merchant ships which touch
there ; though they have acquired a character for dupli
city and cunning, and, consequently, for telling false
hoods, which at the same time they smooth over with
the most artful flattery. But high testimony has been
often borne to their kindness and hospitality towards
Englishmen in distress ; and,when the Exmouth grounded
there several years ago, with a great number of pas
sengers, on her way home, the Sultan Abdallah, the
father of his present highness, particularly distinguished
himself, by even attending in person to direct the efforts
of his men, who came to assist in getting the vessel off.
He paid the utmost attention to all the passengers, par
ticularly to the women and children, taking care that
they should be provided with every thing he could fur
nish for their comfort, until they could pursue their
voyage further. Nor is this by any means a solitary in
stance of the kind services which they have rendered to
our countrymen .
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1
THE SULTAN ALLOUÉ. 129
CHAPTER VIII.
Comoro Islands Sultan Alloué - His father Abdallah - Treaties for
-
suppression of the Slave-trade — Faithful to their engagements — Suf
ferings — Former presents from the East India Company - Queen of
Madagascar - Her cruelty — Missionaries put to death - Persecutions
-Chiefs take refuge in Johanna Story of Raymanytek — Double
dealing — Secret traffic in slaves — Remonstrances produce rebellion
Arms his followers and slaves — The Sultan, being pressed, applies for
assistance to the English — Arms sent from the Cape - Emissaries ar
rive at the Mauritius — Correspondence of Sultan Alloué — Intrigues
of the slave- traders — Difficulties increase . Sultan applies for aid to
Calcutta - Arrival of the Nemesis at Johanna — Critical moment
-
Interview — The Sultan's inquiries -- Excursions into the interior
Aspect of the island—Entertainment at the palace — Sultan superin
-
tends the “ cuisine " . -Another entertainment - Ladies of the court
-
-
Conference on public affairs - Sultan's distress — - Application to Ray
manytek - Danger averted - English flag hoisted - Departure of the
Nemesis.
The present ruler, or sultan, of the Comoro Islands,
by name Alloué, is the son of the late sultan Abdallah,
before alluded to as having been particularly kind to
distressed Englishmen . He is a young man, under thirty,
of moderate height, agreeable countenance, and easy,
pleasant manners. But his character is not distinguished
for energy, and the difficulties with which he has had to
contend appear to have been rather beyond his powers.
VOL. I. K
130 THE SULTAN ABDALLAH .
His father, Abdallah, had made a treaty with Colonel
Farquhar, when governor of the Mauritius, by which he
undertook to suppress, by every means in his power , the
extensive trade in slaves which was at that time carried
on at the islands which were under his dominion ; and
he particularly distinguished himself by the zeal and
perfect good faith with which he carried out its provi
sions. Indeed, to this cause much of the subsequent
difficulties of his family, and the impoverishment of his
people, seem to have been attributed .
In the latter days of Abdallah’s life, he appears to
have met with sad reverses ; and, judging from the do
cuments which I have been able to examine, it would
seem that his determined resistance to the continuance
of the slave-trade raised up enemies against him , not
only in his own islands, but in the more powerful one
of Madagascar, and on the coast of Africa itself. It is
certain, also, that he was at all times favourably regarded
by the government of Bombay, for his services to the
Company's ships, and, as an acknowledgment of his
assistance, a present was sent to him every three years,,
of aa small supply of arms and ammunition . Abdallah's
death was, however, at length brought about, after suf
fering numerous hardships, by the treacherous and cruel
treatment of an emissary from Madagascar, or one of the
more than half-savage chiefs of that island, into whose
hands he at length fell.
This is not the place to enter at large into the sub
ject of Madagascar history ; but it will be sufficient to
remark that the present queen of that country is aa most
cruel and tyrannical sovereign ; that she sets little value
A NATIVE QUEEN . 1 31
upon the lives or blood of her subjects, and that she is
supposed to have poisoned her predecessor, the late King
Radaman ; further, that she did not succeed in winning
the throne without sacrificing most of the chiefs who
were opposed to her, and that she has since contrived
to bring under her subjection many who were formerly
independent governors, or chiefs, of the territory they
severally occupied . Those who take an interest in mis
sionary enterprises will also have heard of the dreadful
cruelties she has exercised upon those unhappy men
within her territories, most of whom were barbarously
put to death, some in her own presence, and partly, it is
said, by her own hand. Only one or two of them escaped
from the island .
It was not unnatural, under these circumstances, that
one or more of the chiefs of the island should have taken
refuge in the neighbouring islands of Johanna and Mo
hilla . Accordingly, so long ago as 1828, a chief, called
Raymanytek, who had been governor of an important
province in Madagascar under the old king, and was said
by some to be his brother, came over to Johanna with
about one hundred followers, and represented to Sultan
Abdallah that he had made his escape from his own
country, through fear of the queen , who sought his life
(probably he had tried to get possession of the chief
authority himself ), and that, as he understood the inha
bitants of the Comoro Islands were allies of the English,
as well as himself, he came there to beg for an asylum.
There was something very suspicious in his story ; but,
nevertheless, Abdallah received him in a very friendly
K 2
132 A NATIVE CHIEF .
manner, placing a house and lands at his disposal, and
shewing him other civilities .
Probably, however, entertaining some mistrust of his
new visiter, Abdallah sent an envoy to Bombay to make
known the particulars of his arrival, and to ask whether
the government would feel satisfied with his residence
upon the islands under his dominion. He suspected, no
doubt, that the new chief might soon become aa trouble
some visiter, and was anxious to endeavour to secure
some further assistance from Bombay, should he stand
in need of it. It is likely, also, that he wished to ob
tain some information respecting the character of Ray
manytek.
From Bombay reference was made to the government
of the Mauritius upon the subject, as being better ac
quainted with the political state of Madagascar. In
the mean time, the chief, not content with a residence
in the neighbourhood of Sultan Abdallah, went to the
opposite or southern side of the island , where he pur
chased a small native vessel, for the evident purpose of
trading in slaves. The little craft made several voyages
across to the coast of Africa ; and , at length, Abdallah
remonstrated with him upon the subject, and informed
him that if this clandestine trade were not discontinued ,
he should make him leave the island altogether. To
this no reply was made ; and still the vessel went across
to the coast, bringing back, on one occasion, nearly two
hundred slaves. Many of these were probably re-exported
to other parts .
Abdallah hereupon ordered his disobedient visiter
ABDALLAH DEPOSED . 133
immediately to quit the island, upon the ground that
the slave-trade could not be permitted within his terri
tory, the more particularly as he was bound by treaty
with the English to prevent it in every way he could.
To this summons Raymanytek made no other reply
than to bring all his followers together armed, and, by
means of bribery and fair promises, to enlist in his cause
some of the poorer inhabitants in his neighbourhood,
and also to arm as many of his negro slaves as he could
prevail upon, and who appeared trustworthy. Money
seemed at all times to be at his command, and he is said
to have brought a well -filled purse with him when he
landed from Madagascar. With the force he had now
collected, he made an unexpected descent upon the
capital of the island, which, being unprepared, was, of
course, unable to resist him. The consternation was
general, in addition to which, his money is believed to
have influenced some of the people to remain quiet.
Almost immediately the old Sultan Abdallah was de
posed, and his brother Ali took the chief power into his
hands. Abdallah, with all the rest of his family, left
the island, with the hope of being able to find an oppor
tunity of reaching some English port, where he might
represent his case, and ask for assistance. He reached
the island of Comoro in safety ; but what became of him
afterwards, until he was ultimately put to death with
extreme barbarity, as before stated, I have hitherto not
been able to ascertain .
During this short interval, Raymanytek had been able
to get possession of the arms belonging to Abdallah, and
which I have stated were supplied every two or three
134 A NATIVE SLAVE- TRADER.
years by the government of Bombay, as a recompence
>
for his friendly assistance when needed ; and, having
burnt and ruined the greater part of the town, and com
pletely destroyed the crops and plantations in the neigh
bourhood, he embarked on board his little vessel, and,
taking with him all that he could conveniently carry
away of any value, he withdrew to the island of Mohilla,
and established himself there in a position easy ofdefence;
all the subsequent efforts of the rightful authorities to
turn him out were of no avail .
This man must have been supplied by some means or
other with abundance of ammunition ; and it is not un
likely that his speculations in the slave-trade, by means
of his own vessel, may have supplied him not only with
money, but also with warlike weapons and ammunition.
It is well surmised, too, that he received assistance di
rect from Madagascar at various times ; and it must not
be forgotten that the nine or ten years which elapsed
between the commencement of these occurrences and the
visit of the Nemesis was a period particularly fraught
with difficulties in relation to the traffic in slaves, and
that it appears, prima facie, highly probable that this
marauding rebel may have been strongly encouraged, and
even aided, in his attempts, by distant parties interested
in the traffic. Indeed, unless some assistance of this
kind had been furnished to him , it is difficult to see how
he could so long have found means to maintain himself.
The sultan applied for assistance on several occasions
to the governments of the Mauritius, of the Cape, and
of Bombay. The letter of the young Sultan Alloué,,
after the death of his father, in 1836, addressed to the
TIIE SULTAN ALLOUÉ . 135
governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and to the admiral
of the station, asking for assistance, was a really pathetic
appeal to their good feelings. It detailed the horrors
of poor old Abdallah's death, and the violent acts of the
invader ; it related the defenceless state in which he found
himself on taking the reins into his hands ; and then
appealed to British generosity, in return for the faithful
adhesion of his family to Great Britain, and the hospi
tality of his people towards all British subjects.
The answer on that occasion was prompt, and wor
thy of the cause, namely, “ that in consequence of the
difficulties in which the sultan of Johanna was placed ,
and in consideration of the fidelity with which the late
Sultan Abdallah had fulfilled his engagements for the
suppression of the slave -trade, and the hospitality which
he had on all occasions shewn to British vessels touching
at Johanna, the governor and admiral readily yield to
the earnest desire of the Sultan Alloué for the aid of
arms and ammunition, and send an ample supply thereof
to Johanna in one of his majesty's sloops of war, ” &c.
With this assistance, Alloué was once more able to
make head for the time against his enemy. But the
country still continued in a very unsettled state ; and,
as the assistance was only temporary, he again fell into
extreme difficulty, and addressed himself to the governor
of the Mauritius upon the subject. Sir William Nicolai,
who was governor and commander-in -chief of that island
at the time, referred the application to the consideration
of the home government. But it would seem that some
little intrigues had sprung up among the sultan's own
136 THE SULTAN ALLOUÉ .
family, which it is not very easy , and so far very unim
portant, to fathom .
The Sultan Alloué's uncle, Seyd Abbas, had about the
same time sent two young men , either his sons or ne
phews, to the Mauritius, to report the unhappy state of
the island , and to request assistance in support of the
actual Sultan Alloué. Not long afterwards, two or three
other young men arrived at the Mauritius, also bearing
letters from Seyd Abbas to the same purport. As this
man was thought to be well disposed towards the Eng
lish , and had been favourably spoken of by all those who
had visited the island, and as, moreover, his object seemed
>
to be the laudable one of trying to support the young
sultan's authority, even though without his highness's
acknowledged sanction, it was judged proper to maintain
all these young men at the public expence, until an
opportunity should offer for sending them back again.
After the lapse of some months, a vessel was hired on
purpose to carry them back ; and it was, at the same
time, distinctly intimated that, “ however praiseworthy
the intentions of Seyd Abbas may have been in sending
his own relations from home as political messengers, and
however high he may stand personally in the respect of
Englishmen, it would in future be impossible for British
authorities to maintain political correspondence with
him or with any other person in Johanna than his high
ness the sultan of the island.” The sultan was further
recommended henceforth to give Seyd Abbas a share of
his confidence in his councils, in consequence of his age
and experience, and the apparent sincerity with which
THE SULTAN ALLOUÉ. 137
he espoused his interests ; and, at the same time, " the
young men were recommended to his notice as very sen
"
sible and well -informed persons." The friendly interest
and intentions of the government towards the sultan and
people of Johanna were then in general terms expressed ;
and thus, with kind words and kinder hopes for better
days for his subjects, the young sultan was left for the
present to take care of himself.
It was only a few months before the arrival of the
Nemesis that some of the events which have been re
corded had occurred . The sultan Alloué was still in
extreme danger ; and another letter was addressed by
him to the governor of the Mauritius, only about five
months previously. It appears to have been remarkably
well written, and contains some ingenious observations
which, as being written by a young Moorish prince, the
ruler of an island in a remote corner of the globe, under
circumstances of great difficulty, it may be worth while
to dwell upon for aa moment.
He thanks his excellency the governor of the Mauri
tius for the kindness he had shown to the young men,
whom he admits to be distantly related to him ; but
shrewdly remarks that their “ clandestine departure
from Johanna, contrary to his express orders, and during
the night, had given him reason to suppose that they
were not quite so friendly disposed towards him as they
wished his excellency to believe : and that he feared the
object of their journey had been a pecuniary speculation
upon the governor's goodness and British hospitality.””
He proceeds to express his thanks for being apprized
that persons had entertained political correspondence
138 INTRIGUES OF THE FRENCH .
with English authorities without his knowledge or con
sent ; and adds, that, although he fully concurs in his
excellency's opinions with regard to the age and expe
rience of his uncle, Seyd Abbas, still there are many
others in Johanna who possess the same qualities, and
whose attachment and loyalty he had never had occasion
to doubt.
The suspicion here betrayed is self-evident, and suffi
ciently delicately expressed . The picture he then draws
of the state of his country is a pitiable one for a prince
himself to be obliged to depict— " the town burnt; the
country ravaged ; all our cattle killed by the chief, Ray
manytek, aided by natives of Mohilla, under his orders.”
He distinctly intimates that the rebel chief was receiving
" assistance from the French ;" and, although he does not
state reasonable grounds for the assertion, the statement
is not altogether an improbable one, considering that
the abolition of slavery in the Mauritius had roused the
feelings of the French population against us and our
allies : and, moreover, slavery was still in existence in
the neighbouring island of Bourbon, where strong feel
ings against the English had been undisguisedly avowed ;
while, at the same time, the difficulty of procuring fresh
slaves had greatly raised their price.
Intrigues were thought to have been carried on by
the French traders in Madagascar itself, where they
have long attempted to obtain a footing, but with little
success, owing to the deadly nature of the climate. It
is, however, perfectly well known that they are still
anxious to strain every nerve to establish themselves in
some place to the eastward of the Cape, in addition to
IMPORTANCE OF JOHANNA . 139
the island of Bourbon, where there is no harbour what
ever, but merely an open roadstead. They are, more
over, anxious to get some point d'appui whence they
may injure British trade, in case of war in that quarter ;
and, at the same time, by establishing a little colony
of their own, find some means of augmenting their mer
cantile marine.
One of their latest attempts has been at the Isle Ma
dame; and it is perfectly well known that several other
efforts have been made, and still more talked about.
If, however, Raymanytek really did receive any foreign
assistance, it is not probable that it was with the know
ledge or connivance of the government of Bourbon , but
rather from the restless enterprise of private individuals
interested in the slave-trade. However that may be, there
seems to be very good grounds for our hoping that the
Sultan Alloué may be permitted to remain in the peace
able possession of his own rightful territories. It is our
evident interest to prevent those fine islands from falling
into any other hands, more especially now that the inter
course between the West and East, through the Mozam
bique channel, is likely to be more extensive than for
merly ; and that the opening for legitimate commerce,
within the channel itself, cannot but attract the attention
of British merchants. The trade in slaves will become
yearly more difficult ; and, indeed , nothing would tend
more to cause its total downfall than the gradual exten
sion , under proper government protection , of the legiti
mate trade in British manufactures along that coast.
The young Sultan Alloué further went on to declare in
his letter that numbers of his people had been captured
140 THE NEMESIS AT JOHANNA .
and taken to Mozambique and Zansibar, where they were
sold into slavery ; and that several such cargoes had al
ready been sent over. He begged earnestly that assist
ance might speedily be sent to him, in arms and ammu
nition, and that he particularly stood in need of lead and
flints, and a couple of small field -pieces. At the same
time, he entreated that some small vessel of war might
be sent to his aid1 ; for that such were his difficulties, that,
unless speedy assistance should arrive, he feared that he
should be driven to abandon the town, and seek person
ally an asylum in British India. He then appealed to
the magnanimity of the British government, in the hope
that he and his people might not be compelled to aban
don their homes for want of timely assistance.
Such, then, was the unhappy situation of the beau
tiful little island of Johanna, as described by its own
prince, only a few months before the unexpected visit
of the Nemesis. Little change had taken place ; the
town still held out, but it does not appear that any as
sistance had been sent to it. The very sight of the
steamer gladdened the young sultan's heart, and encou
raged the people, who stood greatly in need of it ; the
1 The sultan very recently went up to Calcutta, to apply to the
Governor-general, in the hope that the Company might be induced to take
possession of the islands, which he felt he could no longer hold without
assistance. He merely asked for himself a small annual stipend out of the
revenues. What answer he may have received is not known ; but proba
bly his application was rejected, upon the ground of our territory in the
East being already quite large enough. But, in reality, the Comoro
Islands, or at least a part of them , must be viewed in a political light,
as they may be said to command the navigation of the straits, and are
generally thought to be an object aimed at by the French .
THE NEMESIS AT JOHANNA. 141
rebel chief being then at only a short distance from the
town .
Late as it was, the captain and first officer landed in
uniform , to wait upon the sultan at once, as their time
was so limited. One of his uncles and his prime-minister
received them, and accompanied them through a few
narrow streets, built in the Moorish style, to the sultan's
palace. At the entrance were stationed four half - clad
soldiers, with muskets, as a personal guard ; and, on
reaching the reception-room, the sultan was discovered
sitting on a high-backed chair, at the further end of the
>
apartment. He immediately rose, and advanced towards
them in a very friendly manner, welcoming them to Jo
hanna with a good, hearty shake by the hand . Two
chairs were placed on his left, for his guests ; while, on
his right, sat the governor of the town, and several other
of the principal people, all on the tiptoe of expectation
for the news from England ; the more particularly as
they were in some hope that the strange-looking “ devil
ship,” as they called her, might have brought a letter
from the English government, in answer to bis applica
tion for assistance.
They were doomed, however, to be again disappointed ;
but the sultan made many inquiries about the Queen and
Prince Albert, and whether an heir to the throne had yet
been born ; and seemed not a little curious to know if
the Thames Tunnel was finished . In short, he appeared
to be a very well-bred and courteous young man. He
alluded painfully to the distressed state of the island,
and to his being surrounded by his enemies under Ray
manytek ; and begged hard for at least aa little powder
142 VISIT ON SHORE .
and shot, with which to endeavour to hold out until
better assistance could reach him.
As it was already quite late, the interview did not
last long, but promises were made to renew it on the
subsequent day, and a party was arranged for an excur
sion outside the town on the following morning. Ac
cordingly, at daylight, the party were again met by the
king's uncle on the beach, who appointed three soldiers
to act both as guides and guards. These men appeared
quite pleased with the duty assigned to them, and
throughout the whole trip did every thing in their power
to amuse the party, and to point out to them the objects
best worth notice : one man went in search of shells upon
the beach, another to procure fruit, and scarcely a wish
was expressed that was not immediately gratified.
Before they ascended the higher hills in the rear of
the town, they visited the so-called Gardens, about a
mile and a half from the town , situated at the bottom
of a very rich and refreshing valley, near the sea -shore.
There were an abundance of cocoa -nut-trees, fruit-trees,
and picturesque shrubs, but little else at present that
could entitle them to be called gardens. But one im
portant observation was made, namely, that the best
water was to be obtained there, from a small, clear,
running stream, from which it could be easily taken ,
close to the beach ; and also that the best anchorage in
the bay was a little way off this spot, and not opposite
the town, as had been supposed. The vicinity of good
water gives it an additional recommendation.
Having ascended the hills on the eastern side of the
valley, they were gratified by a delightful prospect in
THE TOWN OF JOHANNA. 143
every direction . The valley below was rich and capable of
high cultivation, but only partially cleared of wood , and
in other parts covered with long grass and low shrubs,
varied by the numerous wild flowers which were then in
blossom . In the rear were high and thickly-wooded
mountains, picturesque in themselves, but shutting out
the view of the opposite side of the island, while, in the
other direction, the eye could trace the long line of pic
turesque coast, giving altogether a very favourable inn
pression of the character of the island, the more parti
cularly as some of the timber is very fine, and calcu
lated for repairing ships.
The town itself could only be viewed from the top of
a higher hill behind it, which was now ascended, and its
character well made out. Its little white flat-topped
houses and turreted walls, with very narrow streets,
pointed out its Moorish origin. But there was nothing
to render it otherwise striking.
The whole population appeared to be abroad , each
struggling which should gratify his curiosity the quickest,
in running down to the beach to catch a glimpse of the
strange vessel, the like of which none had ever seen
before. Boats were seen crowding round her on all
sides, and, as she lay there, decked out with all her flags,
the scene was both animated and picturesque.
On descending the hill, the party were again met by
the sultan's uncle, who invited them to breakfast with
his highness, and accompanied them , first to his own
house, where they met the sultan himself, and thence to
the palace, which was close at hand. But it was still
rather an early hour for a reception, and on entering
144 A ROYAL BREAKFAST .
the palace, it was very evident that the preparations had
not yet been completed for their arrival. His highness's
ladies, the sultana and her companions, had only just
time to make their escape, leaving every thing in
disorder, and, in short, breakfast was not quite ready.
His highness was very condescending, but it was clear
that his attentions were being divided between two or
more objects at the same time, one of which was readily
guessed to be the ladies fair, who had so suddenly de
camped. But this was not the only one, and, in the
little intervals between his exits and his entrances, an
opportunity was taken to ask his uncle, who was pre
sent, what it was all about. The mystery was solved .
His highness was condescending to superintend the pre
paration of the breakfast for his guests, that it might
be worthy of them. The kitchen was on this occasion
converted into the council-chamber, and quite as weighty
matters there discussed, and certainly with equal warmth,
and probably, too, with the full “ ore rotundo ” of
hungry eloquence, as are often treated of with greater
solemnity in higher conclaves.
The result, indeed , was worthy of the cause. The
breakfast was pronounced capital, and ample justice
done, after the morning's walk, to the wisdom of his
highness's deliberations. He himself seemed quite de
lighted! ; and his uncle declared, in his absence, that the
young man's greatest pleasure was to contrive some
new means of gratifying the English who came in his
way, and that there was nothing he would not conde
>
scend to do for them, in his enthusiastic admiration of
the nation . A little of this might be said and done for
THE SULTAN'S LADIES: 145
effect, but there has always been good reason to believe
that he was on all occasions a sincere, and, in some re
spects, useful ally.
The same day, a grand entertainment was to be given
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