ANJOU AN, GKANDE- BRETAGNE

Convention relative à la suppression du connu erce de esclaves; signée à Bambao, le 10 octobre 1S^2*).

Pari, Pap€r [371^] i8S3,

Her Majestj the Qaeen of the United KiDgdom of Grcat Britain and Ireland, and His Highness Abdallah bin Selim, tbe Sultan of Johanna, bmng désirons to co-operate for the extinction of ail Traffic in Slaves and tbe eventual abolition of slaverj, bave resolved to conclude a Con- Tention for the porpose of attaining thèse objects, and with this view hava named as their Plénipotentiaires, that is to saj : —

Her Majestj the Queen of Great Britain and Irelaud, Frédéric Holmwood, Esquire, Her Majestj^s Consul for the dominions of the Sultan of Zanâbar, and Acting Consul for the Comoro Islands;

And His Highness the Sultan of Johanna, Abdallah bin Mohamed;

Who, afber having communicated to each other their respective powtra and full authoritj to negotiate, bave agreed upon and concluded the foUowing Articles: —

Art. I. The Sultan of Johanna engages to forbid tbe bringing or importing of slaves into Johanna, and undertakes to uphold this prohibition bj law with the strictest vigilance. AU persons coming or being brought into His Highness* dominions from benceforward are and shall ba abaoluteij free.

Art. n. The Sultan of Johanna authorizes British cruizers to seize ail veasels belonging to his subjects, wherever found, with anj slave or with slave fittings ou board, or in event of there being reason to suspect that anj vessel bas recently carried slaves ; ail such seizures , including T688el, slaves, cargo, and any persous implicated in the violation of this Treaty, maj be dealt with by the nearest or most convenient British authority having Admiralty junsdiction, in accordance with the rules and instructions of his Government.

Art. III. The Sultan of Johanna engages to prohibit from benceforward the sale, purchase, or transfer of slaves in his dominions (the transfer of slaves of deceased persons to their bond fide inheritors alone excepted).

Art. IV. The Sultan of Johanna undertakes to appoint a Begistrar, who shall keep a register of ail slaves in his dominions, with the names of their masters, and of such transfers as may take place in accordance with Article III of this Convention. Ail slaves not so registered within six months from the date of this Convention shall be entitled to freedom.

Art. y. The Sultan of Johanna engages to appoint spécial times for liearing any complaints which slaves may désire to bring before him, and

^ La ratification de cette Convention a été signée par S. M. la Reine de la Ghrande-Bretagne le 28 février 1888.

Nouv. RêcuêU Oén. 2' S. IX. Û

242 Anjauan, Grande-Bretagne.

to allow anj slaye who may snffer injustice or ill-treatment from, or with the connivance of, his master, to appeal personally to hini, and, in event of any complaint of ill-treatment or gross injustice being proved, such slaFe sball be freed forthwith.

Art. VI. The Sultan of Johanna accords to the British Gonsal or any Consular ofiBcer who may be authorized by him to visit His Highneas' dominions, the right to visit ail places in the country, and to inspect ail plantations therein; also to hâve free access to the register of slaves, with liberty to hear ail complaints of slaves , and to call before him the complainants or any other slaves he may désire to examine, together with their masters and such witnesses as he may require , His Highnees deputing a disinterested and compétent person , with authority , to assist him in such inqniries. And in event of such Consol or Consular ofRcer finding sufiBcient proof that any slave is by the terms of this Convention entitled to manumission he may free him forthwith.

Art. VII. And, furthermore, the Sultan of Johanna engages, afber a fixed period, namely, from the 4th day of August, 1889, totaUy to abolish slavery within his dominions, and he iindertakes to promulgat« a Law, the text of which shall be annexed to this Treaty, ordaining that the institution of slavery shall cease to exist within his dominions on the said 4th day of August, 1889, from which date ail persons in the country shall be absolntely free.

Art. VIII. And Abdullah bin Selim , the Sultan of Johanna , hereby engages and déclares that this Convention is and shall be bindiug upon his hoirs and successors.

Art. IX. The présent Treaty shall be ratified and shall corne into operation after its ratification by Her Majesty the Queen ofEngland is received by the Sultan of Johanna, or notice tbereof is given to him.

In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries hâve signed the same, and bave affized thereto their seals.

Done at Bambao, Johanna Island, this tenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and eîghty-two.

Fred^. Holmwoad, AbdcUlah bin Mohamed.

This Treaty is ratified.