MR. J. PEASEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Decree of 20th August, 1890, issued at Zanzibar, directing a slave owner to punish his slave in the event of his running away, and giving slave owners power to refuse money offered by a slave for the purchase of his freedom, has since been revoked or in any way modified?
§ SIR E. GREYThe Decree of August 20, 1890, was issued in consequence of a dangerous excitement among masters and slaves owing to misinterpretation of the previous Decree of the 1st of August. It explained that the law was not altered as regards slaves who ran away, or were accused of crimes. It further stated that the stipulation in the previous Decree as to the concurrence of the Sultan's Arab subjects in the adjustment of the tariff for purchasing freedom must be understood to convey that the assent of the owners was an essential condition. There has been no further alteration in either of the Decrees, and they are both in force.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEDoes not the hon. Baronet think there is reason to fear that the giving way to what he calls dangerous excitement may produce dangerous excitement in the future when we again take the steps we shall possibly have to take?
§ SIR E. GREYThe number of slaves is diminishing to such an extent in Zanzibar that I hope that in the course of a few years the place of slaves will be entirely taken by free labour; and in that case there will be no danger of this particular excitement arising.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs it not the case that at Bengazi the way of punishing slaves for running away is to kill them?
§ SIR E. GREYI am afraid I cannot answer the question without notice.