African Entrepreneurship Records 2

Chapter 282 "Progressive" Sultanate of Zanzibar

1870 10 Month 17 Day.

Zanzibar Island, Palace of Curiosities.

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

The old Said passed away last year, and 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, that is, to continue to maintain the political normality of the Zanzibar Sultanate.

"Minister Lemons, what is your country's intention! We people in Zanzibar rely on the slave trade to get by. To be honest, I don't care if the slave trade is cancelled, but the ministers and businessmen below will not agree. If I agree to your country's conditions, I can step down." Little Said complained to East African Minister Lemons in Zanzibar.

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

Taking a sip of coffee from an oriental teacup imported from the Far East by the royal family of Zanzibar, Lemons continued to analyze: "Nowadays, Europe is banning the slave trade more and more, especially Britain and France. They are the executors. We in East Africa don't care much about slaves, but we can't influence the public opinion in Europe. Your country should have felt it over the years. The British have recently been more and more aggressive in inspecting the slave trade in the Indian Ocean."

The 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. Even I, the monarch, cannot control the thoughts of the subjects. If it runs counter to the people's ideas, I, the monarch, will do it!"

"Your Excellency Said, don't worry. Generally speaking, East Africa is still very clear about the national conditions of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and we will not make things difficult for your country. East Africa has already prepared a plan for you in this matter." Lemons said.

"Oh! I wonder if your country has any good solutions?" Saeed asked curiously.

"First of all, the slave trade must not continue to exist. You have recently found a time to announce the abolition of the legitimacy of the slave trade, first announcing the abolition of slavery at the legal level of the Sultanate of Zanzibar."

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

"Of course not! Since the slave trade is to be abolished, it is natural to perform a full set of tricks. Of course, I do not mean to really abolish the slave trade, but to make 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 Zanzibar to abolish slavery, Said was a little relieved.

"The first point has just been said, to abolish the slavery system at the legal level, so that the Zanzibar regime is not considered a slavery country in law. The next step is to package the original slave trade. The slave trade has been boycotted by various countries, but the employment of workers is legal. All slave trade business groups under the control of the Sultanate of Zanzibar must replace the slave trade with legal labor export companies. In foreign exchanges and business activities, it is emphasized that "national laborers" go abroad to earn foreign exchange."

"If it's just that, Mr. Lemons, don't worry, we can still do it." Little Said said.

Lemons shook his head and said, "Things are not that simple. Since it is labor export, there is no longer a slave ship. You must improve the living conditions of the "labor" transport ship. We don't force you to do a good job. At least in the past, these "labor" should have relatively decent clothes before going to the Middle East, and they must have a certain amount of room for movement. They can no longer be squeezed into narrow shelves like goods."

Hearing this, Little Said had a hard time: "Mr. Lemons, among other things, the cost of clothes alone is not a small sum of money, not to mention giving more space to the slaves, the number of slaves on a ship will be reduced, and the money will be less. The slave traders will not agree."

Lemons said: "Clothes can also be reused. Just give the slaves a set of clothes from Zanzibar to the destination, and then take them off after arriving at the destination. They can be reused next time. It doesn't cost much. As for the reduction in slave shipments and less money, it's better than being caught by other countries and failing to do business!"

"You are right about this, but the slave trade is a voluntary act of merchants, and they also have to calculate the cost. I am afraid that many people will not implement it well, especially the system of our Sultanate of Zanzibar, so we do not have much restraint on these merchants." Little Said said.

It would be nice for the Sultanate of Zanzibar to receive a little tax from these slave traders, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar itself is involved in the slave trade, and the royal family is the beneficiary of the slave trade, which means that the top leaders of the Sultanate of Zanzibar 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 its own citizens, it will be fine. The slave trade is a profiteering industry, and you earn a lot. It doesn't cost much to buy clothes for slaves. We in East Africa can help you with this, and we can provide mechanized clothes at a cost price."

"That being said, Zanzibar citizens are flexible. They can be Zanzibar citizens, but they can also be Oman citizens, or even Ottoman citizens. It is difficult for us to define their identities. How to supervise them?" Saeed asked rhetorically.

"It's easy to do. Learn from East Africa to establish a household registration system to determine the identity of Zanzibar citizens. If you don't agree to become a Zanzibar citizen, you don't have to force it. But if something goes wrong, you can shift the responsibility to other countries. Oman and Ottomans are fine. But the ugly thing is up front. We will assist you in this household registration system. Don't try to be clever." Lemons said.

"Household registration system?"

"Yes, issuing identity certificates to residents can effectively identify the behavior of Zanzibar nationals at sea."

"I guess the ministers will not agree to implement it." Little Said shook his head and said, he didn't think his subordinates would accept this suggestion.

"If you don't implement it, you have to implement it. This is the will of the Kingdom of East Africa. For the smooth progress of these plans, our Kingdom of East Africa will strengthen the garrison of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. At the same time, because of the incident of the British arresting the ship a few days ago, we believe that the current situation of the Sultanate of Zanzibar is a bit dangerous. For the strategic security of the Kingdom of East Africa, the national defense of the Sultanate of Zanzibar will also be included in the military defense system of the Kingdom of East Africa."

Having said so much, 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 remain outside the defense system of East Africa.

Little Said's face was a bit ugly, but he held back. In fact, East Africa has always had a garrison in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and it was just near the palace. The number was only a few hundred, but little Said would not joke about his own safety.

"I don't know how your country plans to strengthen the Zanzibar garrison?"

"The important ports and strategic locations of Zanzibar Island are all included in this plan. We will increase the number of troops to 3000, and at the same time, the forts will be taken over by the East African Artillery Force." Lemons read out the East African decision.

"Then... alright! We fully accept the decision of the East African Kingdom." In the end, little Said still couldn't be tough.

Lemons patted Said on the shoulder with a smile and said: "You don't have to worry. East Africa's strengthening of Zanzibar's defense is mainly to deal with countries outside the region, not against the Sultanate of Zanzibar itself. Old Said was our old friend in East Africa, and we in East Africa still support the rule of the Zanzibar royal family."

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

……

1870 10 Month 21 Day.

After Lemons made a "friendly" persuasion to the ministers in Zanzibar, the Sultanate of Zanzibar agreed to all the requirements of the East African Kingdom.

On the same day, the Sultanate of Zanzibar issued legal provisions to completely announce the abolition of slavery, and all slaves were granted free status. At the same time, the Sultanate of Zanzibar no longer engaged 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 Sultanate of Zanzibar, including Zanzibar Island into the East African defense system, increasing the garrison of Zanzibar Island, and rebuilding the defense fortifications of the port.

As for the slaves in the Sultanate of Zanzibar who were freed again, they signed employment agreements with their former owners. At the same time, a large number of registered "labor service companies" appeared in the Sultanate of Zanzibar the next day, nominally providing labor services for the Middle East and other regions.

(End of this chapter)