§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government has any information that several Englishmen, including Her Majesty's Consul O'Neil, at Mozambique, were recently attacked by Arabs at Zarouga, Lake Nyassa; that, previous to this attack, the Arabs had destroyed 14 Native villages, and massacred the inhabitants; that the Arabs, having as their object the establishing of a slave centre, are increasing in such numbers as to seriously menace the British Missions upon the Lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika; and, if so, what steps Her Majesty's Government intend taking to insure the safety of Her Majesty's subjects in the Lake District; does the Portuguese or any other protectorate extend over all the Lake District; and, if so, is it effective for the protection of the settlers, most of whom are British subjects; and, is it true that Consul Hawes is on his way home?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)In reply to the first article in the Question of my hon. Friend, I have already fully stated the information in our possession in reply to the hon. Member for the College Division of Glasgow (Dr, Cameron) on February 28, and the hon. Baronet the Member for London (Sir Robert Fowler) on March 2. It is not clear how the Europeans became involved in a quarrel between the Arabs and the tribes. It did not originate in slave-raiding, and there was no massacre; and we are not aware that the Arabs are increasing in numbers dangerous to the British Mis- 1636 sions. There is no protectorate exercised over the country where these events occurred by Portugal or any other Power. Consul Hawes had proposed to take leave of absence, but has deferred his departure. Since the answers to which I have referred, we have heard that on the 23rd of December the Arabs had been attacked by the Englishmen, who had stormed and burnt their stockaded village. This blow had destroyed the means of mischief and influence of the Arabs, and relieved the Europeans from danger. Owing to the want of supplies, the Europeans had afterwards gone in the steamers at their disposal, some to the Free Church Mission Station at Miviniwanda, and the rest with the Consul to Livingstonia, from which place he wrote on the 11th of January.