Chapter 282: A "Progressive" Sultanate of Zanzibar
October 17, 1870
Zanzibar Island, The Beit el-Ajaib ("House of Wonders")
The House of Wonders, standing on the western edge of Stone Town, is part of the Sultan's palace complex. This magnificent building features 40 massive columns, each entombing 60 Black slaves at its base.
Last year, Old Sayyid passed away. Backed by the East African Kingdom, Little Sayyid took the throne as the new Sultan of Zanzibar. He was well aware of his own limitations: his mission was merely to preserve the status quo of the sultanate.
"Minister Laemons, what is the meaning of this from your kingdom? We Zanzibaris rely on the slave trade for our livelihood. If you abolish the slave trade, personally I won't mind, but my ministers and merchants won't stand for it. If I accept your kingdom's demands, I might as well give up my throne!" Little Sayyid lamented to Laemons, the East African envoy to Zanzibar.
"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. We in East Africa aren't forcing Zanzibar to give up the slave trade. Fundamentally, this is for your own good." Sipping coffee from an oriental teacup imported from the Far East by the Zanzibari royal family, Laemons continued calmly:
"Europe is increasingly banning the slave trade, especially Britain and France – they're the main enforcers. We in East Africa don't care much about slavery, but we can't override European opinion. You must've noticed how the British have intensified their anti-slavery patrols in the Indian Ocean."
Little Sayyid sighed: "Yes, I'm aware. But the slave trade's profits are so huge that my people won't let go. Over ten thousand Zanzibaris earn their living from it. Even I, as Sultan, can't go against their wishes. If I do, my rule ends."
Laemons replied: "No need to panic. East Africa understands Zanzibar's situation well, and we'll never push you too hard. We've already prepared a plan."
"Oh? May I ask what your kingdom proposes?" Sayyid asked curiously.
"First, we must ban the slave trade – at least nominally. Soon, you should declare its legality void – legally abolish slavery within the Sultanate of Zanzibar."
"That we can manage, yes, so long as it's only on paper?"
"Of course not!" Laemons said. "If we're discarding the slave trade, we must do it thoroughly – but that doesn't mean truly abolishing it. Rather, it needs a more refined and discreet approach."
"Please be more specific!" Knowing Zanzibar wouldn't genuinely ban slavery, Little Sayyid relaxed a bit.
"Step one is to outlaw slavery on paper – so, in principle, you're no longer a 'slave-state.' Next, rebrand the old slave trade under a more acceptable guise. Slavery's widely condemned, yet hiring labor is allowed. All of Zanzibar's slave caravans must drop the slave label, remaking themselves as legitimate labor-export agencies. In external dealings, you present the laborers as your own citizens going abroad to earn foreign currency."
"That part we can do," Little Sayyid said.
Laemons shook his head: "It's more than that. If it's labor export, then the 'slave ships' must vanish. You must improve the living conditions aboard these labor transports. We're not demanding miracles, but at least something passable – give these laborers a bit of space and some clothing, so they aren't jammed on shelves like cargo."
Hearing this, Little Sayyid frowned. "Laemons, the cost of clothes alone isn't small. Let alone spacing out the cargo – if we cram fewer on board, we make less money. The slave merchants won't accept that."
Laemons said: "They can reuse the clothes. They only need one set from Zanzibar to the destination, and once they arrive, they take them back and reuse them next time – it's cheap. As for reducing the number of slaves on each ship, yes, profits go down, but that's still better than being caught by foreign powers and losing everything."
"That's true, but these slave traders operate independently, and under our sultanate's system, we can't really control them," Little Sayyid sighed. Indeed, the Sultanate itself was deeply involved in the trade, with the royal family as prime beneficiaries.
Laemons responded with a smile: "Your Highness, you need only ensure that your citizens abide by the new system. The slave trade is a goldmine – you've profited amply. Buying each slave a token outfit isn't much expense. If necessary, East Africa can help supply affordable, machine-made clothing at near cost."
"All right, but my people are quite fluid in nationality – they may be Zanzibari, Omani, or Ottoman. It's hard to define citizenship. How do we manage that?" asked Little Sayyid.
"That's easy: adopt a registration system like East Africa does – a household registry. Everyone obtains official identification. Anyone refusing Zanzibari citizenship is fine – you can disclaim responsibility if they cause trouble, pinning it on other countries like Oman or the Ottoman. But do note that we'll assist you in setting it up. Don't try any tricks," Laemons warned.
"A household registry?"
"Yes – you issue ID documents to your residents, so you can trace and police their overseas behavior," Laemons said.
"My ministers won't be eager to do that," Little Sayyid confessed.
"Eager or not, you'll do it. This is the East African Kingdom's demand. To carry out these reforms smoothly, we'll be bolstering our military presence in Zanzibar. With British ships seizing yours recently, we believe the sultanate's vulnerability poses a risk to East Africa's strategic security. Thus your island's defenses will be integrated into East Africa's system."
With that, East Africa's real motive was revealed: Zanzibar Island was key to East Africa's coastal defenses, so it could not remain beyond their control.
Little Sayyid's face darkened, but he swallowed his pride. East Africa had already stationed several hundred troops near his palace, and he wouldn't gamble with his own safety.
"How will your kingdom strengthen the garrison here?" he asked.
"At every key port and strategic point on Zanzibar, we'll expand our forces to 3,000 men. Artillery placements will be handled by East African artillery units," Laemons declared.
"In that case… we accept," Little Sayyid conceded, powerless to resist.
Patting him consolingly on the shoulder, Laemons said, "No need to worry. East Africa's only increasing defenses to deter outside threats, not to undermine the sultanate. Old Sayyid was a dear friend of ours, and we still support your royal family's rule."
It was a comforting vow that the Sultanate would remain intact, at least officially.
…
October 21, 1870
After "friendly" persuasion from Laemons, the Sultanate of Zanzibar agreed to all of East Africa's requests. That same day, it issued a proclamation formally abolishing slavery. All slaves were declared free, and the sultanate outlawed any official or private slave-trading practices. Meanwhile, East Africa began finalizing Zanzibar's defense strategy, adding garrisons to integrate the island into East Africa's military system, upgrading harbor fortifications, etc.
Henceforth, freed slaves simply signed new "employment agreements" with their previous masters. Overnight, Zanzibar saw the registration of countless "labor companies" that, at least on paper, provided workers for the Middle East or elsewhere.
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