Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 1, 1873
No. 169.
Mr. Fish to General Schenck.
Washington, June 24, 1873.
Sir: I give you herewith, for your information, copies of two dispatches addressed to this Department by the consuls of the United States at Malta and Tripoli, respectively, * * which relate to the traffic in slaves between Tripoli and the Levant ports via Malta.*
I am, &c.,
Mr. Adams to Mr. Davis.
Malta, June 14, 1873. (Received July 9.)
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 102, of January 1, I have now to communicate the result of inquiries, continued since that date, into the alleged existence of the slave-trade between Barhary and the Levant, via Malta.
The Crown advocate, Sir Adrian Dingli, having made a statement in council defending the government in the matter, I called upon him officially, to ask for any information he could give me. He replied to me at length, saying, substantially, that the government had long watched the movement of blacks through Malta; that the rules of the port had been applied with special stringency to vessels arriving from Barbary; that passengers landing from them had been kept under police supervision while here, and when embarking for the Levant, that frequently the police have inquired of the blacks whether they were free or slaves, and whether they wished to proceed with the persons in whose charge they were traveling, informing them at the same time that they were at liberty to go where they chose; finally, that owing to charges made upon the government, he had ordered that the conductors of the first parties of blacks arriving from Barbary should be prosecuted in the police-court for dealing in slaves; that such a trial had been held on November 14, 1872, and no evidence appearing to sustain the charge, the accused persons had been released. Sir Adrian concluded by saying that in his opinion it was doubtful if any traffic in slaves took place through Malta; and that in any event the local government had fulfilled its duty with the approval of the imperial government, the responsibility for the traffic, if any, lying elsewhere. He subsequently furnished to me translations of certain official papers, which are inclosed herewith, viz: examples of inquiries made and reported by the police, and a copy of the judicial proceedings of November 14, 1872.
Mr. Giacomo Psaila, adjutant of the interior police, the prosecutor in the action of November 14, made a statement to precisely the same effect. He is sure the blacks are no slaves, “the relation being without force and voluntary on both sides.” Mr. Luigi Aloisio, adjutant of marine police, who has conducted most of the investigations, stated that he has been thirty-two years in the force. Negroes, or Moors, had passed through here from Barbary to the Levant for many years, but the number has been greater since the opening of steam-lines to Barbary. A few come from Benghazi, or other small ports, but nearly all from Tripoli; most of them upon the Turkish steamer Trabulus Gharb of Tripoli, a much less number upon the Turkish steamer Villayet, a few upon other occasional steamers or sailing-vessels of different nationalities. They consist of women and children of both sexes; the language spoken by them is Turkish, Arabic, or Soudanese. They travel in companies of from two or three to ten or fifteen, sometimes being represented as the servants of ordinary passengers, but usually coming in charge of a padrone (master) or conductor, who is almost always a Turk of Tripoli or Constantinople. The same padrone who brings them from Barbary takes them to the Levant, no instance of changing masters here having been noticed. Several padroni have been observed to pass repeatedly, always accompanied by blacks, but never by the same blacks. While waiting to re-embark they resort to a lodging-house here kept by a Maltese, licensed by the authorities and under police inspection. They take deck-passage usually on British steamers for Alexandria, Smyrna, or Constantinople, mostly for the last-named port. Having long been suspicious of these persons, he called the attention of the authorities to the subject two years ago, and was ordered to inquire into it and report officially. He finds that the blacks individually, or sometimes the padroni for themselves and their suites, bear a passport from [Page 385] the authorities at Tripoli, or the port whence they arrive, but not viséd by the British consul. Very many blacks have been examined apart individually in Turkish, Arabic, or, when an interpreter could be had, in the tongue of Soudan. There have been one or two occasions where persons have been released from the padroni at their own request, but usually they profess to be free and desirous of continuing with the padroni. The largest number that ever came at one time was fifty-two, who arrived on the Trabulus Gharb, and proceeded in her to Constantinople, the vessel having, as he understood, been chartered for the voyage by the Pasha of Tripoli. His official observations and reports extend from January, 1872. He has reason to believe that formerly many blacks were brought here secretly, not appearing in the lists of passengers. Lately he has noticed that they seemed to have been previously instructed what replies to make to the questions of the police, often declaring before questioning that they are free and wish to go to Constantinople. He has no doubt at all that most of them are slaves purchased in Barbary to be resold in the Levant. I inclose three reports furnished to me by Mr. Aloisio, made by him to his superior officers, and a report of arrivals of Moors (blacks) since February 17, 1872. This last report, he explained to me, is of those who were suspected to be slaves.
Salvatore Borg stated to me that he has kept the lodging-house spoken of by Adjutant Aloisio for five years past. There are arrivals of blacks by nearly every steamer coming from Benghazi and Tripoli, and a few from Tunis. He reports, according to law, every arrival to the police, who frequently inspect his house. He has often talked with the padroni, and the women of his family with the black women, who will not converse with Christian men. To the question whether they were slaves, he replied, “S’intende, signore,” but in a later interview declared that he meant only to say they were servants, (“serve non schiave.”) He had never seen any constraint used by the padroni, who always accompany the blacks, nor any unwillingness in the latter to go with the padroni. Some of the padroni had been at his house several times, each time with a different party.
Amabile Grech, recently agent of the Turkish steamer Villayet, states that the blacks arrive by every steamer, but more in summer than in winter. It is notorious that they are slaves and that the principal person engaged in the traffic is the Pasha of Tripoli.
O. F. Golcher, A. Duncan & Co., A. Camilleri, and other agents of the various lines of British steamers calling here, state that they grant passage to any applicant unless notified by the police that there is a legal impediment upon his departure. They would not take slaves, knowing them to be so, and in a few cases had refused to take parties of blacks; but in general it is no part of their business to inquire into the character or condition of their passengers.
A trustworthy person, J. Azzopardi, whom I have privately employed for two or three months to inquire whether any persons residing in Malta are directly concerned in the traffic, tells me that Mr. L. Farragia, consul for Tunis, and recently for Turkey, is intimate with the padroni, and often aids them to secure passage for the Levant, which is the sum total of his discoveries.
I am inclined to think that the foregoing facts are all that can be discovered here, and probably all that there are. There is really no mystery in the matter, the padroni relying upon their passports and the ignorance and docility of the blacks as a sufficient safeguard. They have evidently been encouraged by the failure of police investigations, and come and go without any attempt at secrecy. I may add, however, that it seems to me that if the object of the authorities has been to ascertain the real character of the traffic, the case has been rather unskillfully managed, little attempt having been made to obtain other testimony than that of the supposed slaves themselves, from whom, owing to their gross ignorance, timidity, and religious scruples, no trustworthy evidence could well be expected; while, even in the rare cases of those who have been released, nothing seems to have been sought for beyond their declaration that they were under constraint and desired to be set free. But I think it quite certain that decisive proofs are to be had only at the termini of the route in Barbary, where the blacks are obtained, or in the Levant, where they are finally disposed of. All that can be obtained in Malta is likely to be purely circumstantial evidence, which may be summed up as follows: 1. The movement is entirely in one direction, from Barbary to the Levant, no Moors, or nearly none, going the other way; 2. The Moors are all women or children; 3. There are persons whose regular employment seems to be the conducting of these parties to the east.
Finally, with the exceptions noted above, it is the conviction of all persons whom I have questioned, and, I am assured, the general conviction of the public, that the most of the blacks are slaves; and many persons, official and others, do not fail to comment on the extreme absurdity of the recent mission to Zanzibar, and other costly attempts to suppress on foreign soil or waters a traffic which daily passes in all security through the principal military possessions of Great Britain and under the eyes of her representatives in a dozen different ports of the Mediterranean.
I am, &c.,
Abstract of contents of translation annexed of proceedings before the Malta police-court, instituted by Giacomo Psaila, the adjutant of police, on November 14, 1872.
Sworn statement of Adjutant Psaila, presenting Her bin Bubakar, Mohammed Trzeni, Selim bin Ghasciur, and Hmida bin Ibrahim, all arrived from Tripoli by the Trabulus Gharb, for dealing in slaves. The two first had with them 3 female slaves—Hadiga, Zelmia, and Amina. The third 6—Zara, Zara, Fatima, Zara, Zara, and Fatima, or Zara. The last 4—Mizghuda, Mabraka, of 5 years, Salma, an infant, and Hdÿa. Representations of accused to adjutant, pp. 1–4.
Statements of the accused to the court. They all plead not guilty, pp. 4–9.
Testimony, pp. 10–38.
Mohammed Iscemli, of Tripoli; knows accused personally; women with them not slaves, p. 10.
Angelo Abela, of Malta, and Angelo Borg, of Malta, belonging to the Trabulus Gharb, acted as interpreters when Adjutant Psaila examined accused, and women with them, on the arrival of the Trabulus Gharb. Statements of the conversation, pp. 11–16.
Hdiga, of Tripoli; goes with her daughters to join her son at Constantinople; is not a slave, p. 16.
Amina, her daughter; same statement, p. 18.
Hjenia, sister of Amina; same statement, p. 20.
Zara; is wife of the accused, Selim, p. 22.
Fatima; is sister of Zahra, and no slave, p. 22.
Zara; is daughter of Selim and Zara, p. 24.
Fatima, of Tripoli; no slave; goes to find a place as hired servant at Constantinople. Zara and Zara, born in Soudan; same statement, pp. 25–28.
Fidaga, born in Soudan; goes with Misonda, her sister, to join the latter’s husband, p. 29.
Misonda; has been in voluntary service of Pasha, of Tripoli; goes to join her husband, p. 30.
Naounr Duhany, swears to translations of passes borne by Mabraka, Madigia, Ahmet Amish, Selem, Zara, and Mehmett Hamula, for themselves and certain persons with them, pp. 31–38.
Decision of the court; charge not sustained; accused discharged, p. 38.
Proceedings before the Malta police court.
(Translation.)
The 14th day of November, 1872, Adjutant Giacomo Psaila, son of the late Vincenzo, born and residing in Valletta, states on oath in the presence of Her Ben Bubakar Mohammed Fizeni, Selim bin Ghasciur, and Hmida bin Ibraim, the whole being explained to them in Arabic by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
I have the honor to report to this court that, on the eleventh instant, the Turkish steamer Trabulus Gharb, Capt. Vincenzo Azzopardi, arrived in this port from Tripoli, and that, amongst the passengers, there were these four individuals, whom I present before this court, on a summons, and whose names are Her bin Bubakar, Mohammed Fizeni, Selim bin Ghasciur, and Hmida bin Ibraim; and I charge each of them with dealing in slaves, they having female slaves with them. Her bin Bubakar left Constantinople for Tripoli, bearing a letter from Lies Effendi, which he delivered to the person to whom it was addressed, and he left Tripoli for Constantinople in the company of Mohammed Fizeni, taking with them, and under their charge, on board the said steamer, three female slaves, namely, Hadigia, Zehnia, and Amina, to deliver them to said Lies Effendi at Constantinople. Selim bin Ghasciur embarked at Tripoli in the same steamer, six women named Zara, Zara, Fatima, Zara, Zara, and another whose name is also Zara or Fatima, I do not know which. In regard to the first four, he told me that they composed his family, and in regard to the last two he told me that they had been delivered to him at Tripoli by Seih Ghali, to be delivered by him to Selim Effendi at Constantinople. Hmida bin Ibraim has four women, namely, Mizghuda, Mabraka, a girl aged five years, Salma, an infant, and Hdeja, aged eighteen years, sister of Mizghuda; and he stated that they were placed under his charge at Tripoli by the Pasha, to be delivered by him at Constantinople to the son of the said Pasha, adding that he is a police officer at Tripoli. I produce five teschere or passports, or rather passes, relative to the accused and the women mentioned in this report, and two other passports. I request that I may be permitted to produce the evidence in support of my report, in order that, the facts being inquired into, justice may be administered.
GIACOMO PSAILA,
Adjutant.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
[Page 387]On the 14th day of November, 1872, the court explained in Maltese to the accused Her bin Bubakar the nature of the charge against him, and warned him that he is not bound to answer any question, or to criminate himself; that he could, if he wished, be assisted by advocates and legal procurators, and that anything he might say could be received in evidence against him. Subsequently the accused, Her bin Bubakar, without being sworn, answered as follows in Arabic, through the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama:
My name is Her bin Bubakar; my age is about thirty years; I was born in Bar-el-ghabid; at present in this island en route for Constantinople; I am a domestic servant; the name of my father, who is living, is Bubakar.
Being then asked by the court whether and what he wished to answer, he said in Arabic, without being sworn:
I am innocent.
HER BIN his + own mark. BUBAKAR.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, the court explained to the accused, Mohammed Fizeni, the nature of the charge against him, and warned him that he is not bound to answer any question, or to criminate himself; that he could, if he wished, be assisted by advocates and legal procurators, and that anything he might say could be received in evidence against him. Subsequently the accused, Mohammed Fizeni, without being sworn, answered as follows, in Arabic, through the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama:
My name is Mohammed Fizeni; my age is about twenty years; I was born at Fezzan, and reside at Tripoli; I am a domestic servant; my father’s name is Ottman, and he is alive.
Being then asked by the court whether and what he wished to answer, he said, in Arabic, and without being sworn, through the said interpreter:
I am not guilty.
(His signature in Arabic.)
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, the court explained, in Arabic, to the accused, Selim bin Ghasciur, the nature of the charge against him, and warned him that he is not bound to answer any question, or to criminate himself; that he could, if he wished, be assisted by advocates and legal procurators, and that anything he might say could be received in evidence against him. Subsequently the accused, Selim bin Ghasciur, answered as follows, in Arabic, and without being sworn:
My name is Selim bin Ghasciur; my age is thirty-five years; I was born at Kirkna, and reside at Tripoli; at present in this island en route for Constantinople; the name of my father, who is alive, is Mohammed bin Ghasciur; I am a seaman.
Being then asked by the court whether and what he wished to answer, he stated in Arabic, and without being sworn, through the said interpreter:
I have my family with me, and I am not guilty of the crime with which I am charged.
SELIM BIN his + own mark. GHASCIUR.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, the court explained, in Arabic, to the accused Hmida bin Ibraim, the nature of the charge against him, and warned him that he was not bound to answer any question, or to criminate himself; that he could, if he wished, be assisted by advocates and legal procurators, and that anything he might say could be received in evidence against him. Then the accused, Hmida bin Ibraim, without being sworn, answered as follows in Arabic, the whole being interpreted in Italian by the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumma:
My name is Hmida bin Ibraim. My age is thirty-eight years. I was born and reside at Tripoli. I am police officer, charged with the conveyance of the mails. The name of my father, who is dead, was Ibraim.
Being then asked by the court whether and what he wished to say in answer to the charge, he stated in Arabic through the said interpreter:
I am not guilty.
HMIDA BIN his + own mark. IBRAIM.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Mohammed Iscemli, son of the late Hag-Mustafa, born and residing at Tripoli, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, [Page 388] the whole being explained to the court in Italian by the sworn interpreter, E. Sciumama:
I knew each of the parties accused at Tripoli. They were on board the steamer Trabulus Gharb. Her bin Bubakar and Mohammed Fizeni have three white women, who are proceeding to Constantinople to join the son of one of them. They are not slaves. Selim bin Ghasciur has four women with him—one is his wife, another his daughter, another his wife’s sister, and the other a servant. With them there are two others, one of whom had gone to Tripoli from Constantinople, and on his return to Constantinople she is taking her sister with her. Hmida bin Ibraim is a police officer at Tripoli. He is accompanying four women, namely, two sisters, and two little children of one of them. Their said mother had come to Tripoli from Constantinople together with them, and from Tripoli she was now taking her sister to Constantinople. What I have stated I knew at Tripoli, and it was confirmed on board by the parties accused and by the women themselves.
MOHAMMED his + own mark. ISCEMLI.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, Angelo Abela, son of Felice, born and residing at Cospicua, stated on oath, in Maltese, in presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the said accused in Arabic by the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama:
On Monday last the adjutant, Giacomo Psaila, came on board the Turkish steamer Trabulus Gharb, on which I am a seaman, in the great harbor of Valletta, which steamer had arrived from Tripoli. He wished to see all the passengers, and to know to whom they belonged. The accused, Selim, said to the adjutant that four of the women who were on board that steamer composed his family, and that he had been requested to take in his company the other two, who had been intrusted to his care at Tripoli by the shih, to convey them to the son of the same shih at Constantinople. The other accused, Hmida, said that four women had been intrusted to him by the pasha of Tripoli, and that he was to deliver them at Constantinople to the son of the same pasha. The adjutant continued to speak with the passengers, but I left them to attend to my own business, and therefore I can say nothing else. I cannot say what was said by the passengers on board the steamer, because I am ignorant of their language. Neither am I aware of any circumstance from which I can infer that the women who embarked at Tripoli were slaves. Adjutant Psaila obtained the names of the same men-passengers, and of the women from themselves. I and others of the ship acted as interpreters to Adjutant Psaila and the passengers, so far as we understood Arabic; but neither I nor the others know that language well.
Questioned by Selim, in cross-examination, whether the witness is sure that he heard Selim say that those women were directed to the son of the shih, or to Selim Effendi.
Answer. As far as I remember, he said that he was to take them to the son.
ANGELO his + own mark. ABELA.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
Hmida being asked whether he wished to cross-examine the witness, answered in the negative; and the other accused parties also did the same.
ANGELO his + own mark. ABELA.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, Angelo Borg, son of the late Giovanni, born and residing at Vittoriosa, stated on oath, in Maltese, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to them in Arabic by the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama:
I am the boatswain of the Turkish steamer Trabulus Gharb, comingfrom Tripoli to Malta, with goods and passengers. On the arrival of the said steamer in this port Adjutant Psaila went on board and put many questions respecting the passengers. I and Angelo Abela acted as interpreters for him, as far as we understand Arabic. The accused Selem said to the adjutant that four of the women who were on board belonged to him, one being his wife, another his daughter, another his wife’s sister, and the fourth his servant. He also stated that he had been charged by a sheik at Tripoli to accompany two women until their arrival at Constantinople, and he was to deliver them to Selem. The other accused, Hmida, said to the adjutant that he was a police officer, charged with the mails, and that two women and two girls had been intrusted to his care by the pasha of Tripoli, and he was to accompany them until their arrival at Constantinople, and there to deliver them to the son of the same pasha.
ANGELO BORG.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
[Page 389]The 14th day of November, 1872, Hdigia, widow of Ibraim Effendi, born and residing at Tripoli, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by the sworn interpreter, E. Sciumama:
I have been a widow twelve years. I have three children—two female, and one male, named Lias, who is a clerk in the court at Constantinople. I and my daughters reside at Tripoli, where we live by labor. My son has desired me to join him, in company with his sisters, to live with him at Constantinople, and he recommended the accused Her bin Bubaker to accompany us on the voyage, as he has been an acquaintance of the family a long time. I am not a slave, nor are my daughters slaves, and no one has purchased us. I know that I am free, and my daughters are likewise free. I and they are proceeding to join my son, Elias Effendi, and we desire to continue our voyage. The accused Her has no power over me, nor over my daughters; he is only accompanying us in the voyage, which we are performing of our free will. I brought up the other accused, Mahomed Fizeni, at Tripoli, from his childhood, and as I and my family are proceeding to Constantinople, he is accompanying us to continue living with us at Constantinople, as he did at Tripoli. Neither I nor my daughters in any way depend on the accused, Her and Mohamed Fizeni. The passage-money was sent to me by my son, who called me to him three months ago. He used to send me the money he saved. My said son sent to tell me also, through other persons, that he wished me to join him. I myself gave the money to the accused Her in order to pay for our passage.
HDIGIA her + own mark. IBRAIM.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, Amina Ibraim, daughter of the late Ibraim, born and residing at Tripoli, at present in this island en route, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama:
I lost my father long ago. I have a sister named Leina; my mother’s name is Hdigia. My brother, Elias Effendi, a clerk, domiciled at Constantinople, asked us to join him, he being in the habit of assisting us; and we therefore determined to go to him. The accused Her, an old friend of our family, accompanies us in the voyage, and the other accused Mohamed Fizeni, who was brought up with us from childhood, comes with us. I have not been sold, and I know that I am free. I am proceeding to my brother’s, in the company of my mother and sister, and I wish to continue the voyage with them. My brother sent the money to my mother for the passage from Tripoli to Constantinople, and she gave the requisite sum to the accused Her to pay for the passage.
AMINA her + own mark. ABRAIM.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, Hziena, spinster, daughter of the late Ibraim Effendi, born and residing at Tripoli, at present in this island en route, stated on oath, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama:
I and my sister Amina lived at Tripoli with our mother, Hdigia. A brother of ours resides in Constantinople, where he is employed as a clerk. He has asked us to go and live with him at Constantinople, and he sent us the requisite sum of money through the accused Her, an old friend of the family, who is to accompany us in the voyage. The other accused, Mohammed Fizeni, who was brought up with us at Tripoli, also comes with us. None of the persons accused has purchased me or my mother or my sister. I am not a slave, and I am well aware that I am free, like my mother and sister. I wish to proceed to the place of our destination. It is true that the said accused persons are accompanying us, according to my brother’s instructions, but I do not in the least depend on them. No one has paid any money for the purchase of myself. I am proceeding to Constantinople to join my brother, who wishes to maintain me, as I am his sister; my brother is Elias Effendi.
HZIENA her + own mark. IBRAIM.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
On the 14th day of November, 1872, Zara, wife of Selim bin Ghasciur, born in the Soudan, and residing at Tripoli, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being rendered into Italian by the sworn interpreter, Elia Sciumama: I am the wife of the accused Selim bin Ghasciur.
ZARA BIN her + own mark. GHASCIUR.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
[Page 390]On the 14th day of November, 1872, Fatima, of Mohammed, born in Constantinople, and residing at Tripoli, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
The accused Selim bin Ghasciur is the husband of my sister Zara. I am a spinster; my parents are domiciled in Constantinople. I have been two years at Tripoli in my sister’s house, and having determined to change my domicile, I and my sister, together with her husband, daughter, and servant, named Zara, are proceeding to Constantinople, where our parents are living. I am not a slave; no one has paid any money for the purchase of myself. Voluntarily and freely I left in the Trabulus Gharb for Malta, in order to proceed to Constantinople, and go to my parents’ house, and I wish to leave this island with my sister and her husband, who is nothing else to us but the head of a family, who is taking us to our father. He paid nothing for me, nor is he to take me to any other place than my parents’ house. There were two women on board, one named Zara, and the other Fatima, and they are sisters. They requested my sister to allow them to go in her company to Constantinople to their parents’ house, as they could not live any longer at Tripoli. They were not purchased, nor do I know that any money was paid for them. I know that I am free, and wish to proceed on the voyage to Constantinople.
FATIMA her + ownmark. MOHAMED.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Zara, daughter of Selim, born at Bhir-il-Ghabid, and residing in the Irian, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
I am the daughter of the accused Selim, and my mother is Zara. I and my parents, together with my mother’s sister, are proceeding from Tripoli to Constantinople, where my mother has her parents. No one has paid any money for the purchase of myself. I wish to go to Constantinople with my said parents.
ZARA her + own mark. SELIM.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Fatima, daughter of unknown father, of Tripoli, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter, and interpreted to the witness by Hadigia, widow of Ibraim:
I have been the servant of Amura, at Tripoli, three years, and am not a slave; and I could leave his service if I pleased to do so. He used to maintain me and give me a salary. Having been requested to send a servant to Siad Ali in Constantinople, to attend to the children, he proposed that I should go to Constantinople, and I voluntarily consented. My new master is also to pay me a salary, besides food and maintenance. I am not a slave, nor has any sum been paid for the purchase of myself. Sidi Amora recommended me to the accused Selim, who is to take me to the place of my destination, and I declare that I freely wish to go with him.
FATIMA her +. own mark.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Zara, daughter of Selim, born in Constantinople, and residing at Tripoli, at present at Malta en route, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
Up to a year ago I was a salaried servant with Selim in Constantinople, and I remained with him many years. He proposed that I should go and serve in his daughter’s house, and I voluntarily consented, and proceeded to Tripoli in the capacity of servant, where I also had a salary. I determined to return to the service of Selim at Constantinople, and for this purpose I embarked onboard the Turkish steamer Trabulus Gharb, with recommendation from my mistress to the accused Selim. I am not a slave, and I voluntarily act as servant, and not because I am forced, and I wish to proceed on my voyage.
ZARA OF her + own mark. SELIM.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Zara, daughter of Ali, born in the Soudan, residing at Tripoli, at present at Malta en route, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of [Page 391] the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
I am not the slave of any one. No one has paid any money for the purchase of myself. I left Tripoli on board the Trabulus Gharb with the family of the accused, Selim, as they are going to settle in Constantinople. I am going in search of employment as servant. I know that I am free, and wish to proceed to Constantinople.
ZARA her + own mark. ALI.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Fidaja, daughter of unknown father, born in the Soudan, and residing at Tripoli, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
My sister Misonda, residing at Constantinople, who has two daughters, lately proceeded to Tripoli, and I go from Tripoli to Constantinople with her. We left Tripoli on board the Trabulus Gharb. My said sister’s husband is at Constantinople. I wish to proceed on the voyage with her, and am not forced to travel. The Pasha of Tripoli recommended my sister to the accused, Hmida, with whom she goes, and I go with her to Constantinople.
FIDAJA her +. own mark.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th day of November, 1872, Misonda, wife of Abdel-Kader, born at Sukua, residing in Constantinople, stated on oath, in Arabic, in the presence of the accused, the whole being explained to the court in Italian by Elia Sciumama, sworn interpreter:
I and my husband and many of my family are voluntarily in the service of the family of the Pasha of Tripoli, who has a son residing in Constantinople. From Constantinople I left for Tripoli, whence I took my sister Fidaja, with whom I return to Constantinople in the service of the pasha’s son. The accused, Hmida, was requested by the Pasha of Tripoli to take charge of me until my arrival at Constantinople. I am not a slave; no one has paid any money for the purchase of myself. I work voluntarily, and live by my labor. When I do not wish to remain any longer in the service of the pasha I can leave it.
MISONDA her + own mark. ABDEL-KADER.
F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
The 14th of November, 1872, Naum Duhany, son of the late Michele, born in Constantinople, residing at Malta, stated on oath, in Italian, in the presence of the accused, the whole being interpreted to them in Arabic by Elia Sciumama, who is also sworn:
I am able to faithfully translate the seven documents which are shown to me by the court, (alluding to those produced by the adjutant of police, Giacomo Psaila.) The first one, marked Letter A, is of the following tenor:
Permission for traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in the capital, of the female sex, named Mabruka, daughter of Adballa, having occasion to leave Tripoli for the capital, the employés of police and others are required to allow her to travel without hindrance, and to afford her all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, Ramasan 4.
Good for the aforesaid person only.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary:
Chief Araldo.
[Seal of the authority.]
The second, marked B, is of the following tenor:
Permission for traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in the capital, of the female sex, named Nodigia, daughter of Adballa, having occasion to leave Tripoli for the capital, the employés of police and others are required to allow her to travel without hindrance, and to afford [Page 392] her all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, Ramasan 4.
Good for the aforesaid person only.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary:
Chief Araldo.
[Seal of the authority.]
The third, marked Letter C, is of the following tenor:
Permission for traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in Tripoli, of Barbary, an employé of police, Ahmet Amish, son of Ibraim, having occasion to leave Tripoli for the capital, the employés of police and others are required to allow him to travel without hindrance, and to afford him all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, 27 Rabiel ul Sani.
Good for the aforesaid person only.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary:
Special permit.
[Seal of the authority.]
The fourth, marked Letter D, is of the following tenor:
Permission for traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in Tripoli, of Barbary, belonging to the tribe of Abassi, named Salem, son of Mehmett, having occasion to leave Tripoli for the capital, the employés of police and others are required to allow him to travel without hindrance, and to afford him all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, Ramasan 7.
Good for his family, composed of four persons—altogether five.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary:
Chief Araldo.
[Seal of the authority.]
The fifth, marked Letter E, is of the following tenor:
Permission for traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in the capital, of female sex, named Zara, daughter of Abdalla, having occasion to leave Tripoli for the capital, the employés of police and others are required to allow her to travel without hindrance, and to afford all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, Ramasan 3.
Good for one person only.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary:
Chief Araldo.
[Seal of the authority.
The sixth, marked Letter F, is of the following tenor:
Permission for traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in Scutari, merchant, Mahmud Agha, son of Abdulla Rahman, having occasion to leave Tripoli for the capital, the employés of police and others are required to allow him to travel without hinderance, and to afford him all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, Ramasan 8.
The black woman Fatma, the black woman Mabruka, the son Sait, 4 individuals; good for four only.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary.
Special permit and guarantee.
[Seal of the authority.]
The seventh, marked Letter G, is of the following tenor:
Permission of traveling.
The Ottoman subject, resident in Tripoli, of Barbary, merchant by profession, named Mehmett Hamuli, son of Haggi Mustafa, having occasion to leave Tripoli, of Barbary, for Alexandria, the employés of police and others are required to allow him to travel without hindrance, and to afford him all needful aid and protection. Wherefore the present permission for traveling has been issued.
Year 1289, Ramasan 8.
[Page 393]His wife, who is black, his sister, who is black—three individuals—good for other three individuals with him.
The officer charged with passports at Tripoli, in Barbary.
Special permit.
[Seal of the authority.]
I state that the said seven documents, from letter A to letter G, have been faithfully translated, in my present deposition, from the Turkish language into Italian.
- NAOUM DUHANEY.
- F. Mizzi, Mag’te.
Criminal court of the magistrates of judicial police for the island of Malta-Valletta.
Thursday, 14 November, 1872.—Dr. F. Mizzi, Magistrate.—The Police Adjutant Giacomo Psaila vs. Her bin Bubakar, Mohammed Fizeni, Selem bin Ghasciur, Hmida bin Ibraim.
The court having examined the acts of instruction against Her Bin Bubakar, Mohammed Fizeni, Selem bin Ghasciur, and Hmida bin Ibraim, decides that there is not sufficient ground for committing the accused for trial, and therefore discharges them, and directs that the acts of instruction be, within three days, transmitted to the crown advocate.
True copy:
[Copy.]
Sir: In compliance with your directions I have the honor to report that on the 17th instant, immediately on the arrival of the steamer Trabulus Garb from Tripoli, it having been stated to me that several black women and two boys were on board of her, and that a passage for Constantinople was being procured for them, I proceeded on board to verify whether they were slaves, and I found that nine females of different ages and two boys, some of whom spoke the Arabic and some the Turkish language, were on board. Although the former fully understood the Maltese, yet, the cause of my visit to them being of paramount importance, I considered myself bound in duty to employ a person who could speak both their languages in order to convey to them with greater facility and precision the good intentions of the British Government in regard to slavery, and, consequently, through the interpretation of one Francesco Sultana, I requested them to inform me whether they were slaves, and, in the affirmative, if they were willing to gain their freedom and remain in the island in an asylum which government would provide until an occupation could be provided for them. In answer to these proposals they one and all declared that they were free, and had been a long time in the service of their respective masters, and would not leave them, they having been always, and under every circumstance, well treated by them.
The adjutant of marine police, previous to my arrival on board, had already paid them a visit for the same object.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. Bonello, Esq., Superintendent of Police, &c.
Sir: I have the honor to report, for your information, that, in accordance with your instructions, on the arrival of each of the vessels mentioned in the accompanying list, I proceeded on board, and, in the presence of Acting Inspector Gerada and Sub-Inspectors Staines and Inglott, through an interpreter employed on each occasion, I obtained the following answers from the persons marked in column No. 4 of said list, whom I have, in compliance with the said instructions, individually and separately examined, viz: “That they embarked at Tripoli, and came to Malta of their own free will, and were proceeding to Stamboul of their own free will;” each expressing herself in the following words, which I fully understood: “Iena inhopp inruh fi Stamboul;” meaning, “I like to proceed to Stamboul.” And, on being asked whether on board there was any one who was their master, or if on arrival at Stamboul there would be any one who would be their master, they each answered negatively.
I have further to add that several of those women were accompanied by men who [Page 394] from their dress and demeanor, appeared to belong to the better classes, and who seemed to exercise some influence on those women. These men, questioned on their relation to those women, answered that the latter were their wives, and this circumstance was confirmed by the women when again questioned by me on the subject.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
R. Bonello,
Esq.,
Superintendent of Police,
&c.
Report of Moors, (suspected to be slaves,) arrived at Malta as stated hereunder.
| Date of arrival. | Name of vessels. | From whence. | No. of Moors. | |
| 1872 | ||||
| June | 21 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Garb | Tripoli | 16 |
| July | 15 | British bark Em’le Scicluna | do | 8 |
| 18 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Garb | do | 30 | |
| 30 | British steamship Abeasis | do | 25 | |
| 31 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Garb | do | 17 | |
| Aug. | 17 | British steamship Raffael | do | 26 |
| Sept. | 3 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Garb | do | 52 |
| Oct. | 4 | do | do | 25 |
| 23 | Ottoman brig Mahalla | do | 8 | |
| 24 | Ottoman Steamship Trabulus Garb | do | 20 | |
Custom-House, October 28, 1871.
Most Illustrious Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, according to standing orders relative to the Moorish slaves who occasionally pass through this port for the Levant, during the last three months I have had occasion, upon the arrival of the following steamers from Tripoli, to suspect that among the number of individuals who are described in the margin, over against the names of the respective steamers, were (some who were) slaves, and accordingly I have conferred with them in the place hereunder indicated, and have caused to be explained to them, through an interpreter, that under the British rule they enjoyed emancipation if they chose to avail themselves of such privilege, to which they replied to me with an absolute refusal of wishing to prosecute their journey to Constantinople.
I have examined in the post-office 16 individuals arrived by the Trabulus Garb.
In the lodging-house Strada S. Ursola Valletta, 8 individuals arrived by the Abeasis.
On board the English steamer Mary, 2 individuals.
I have the honor, &c.,
To the most illustrious Mr. G.
Psaila,
Adjutant of Police,
&c.
N. B.—The literal translation of the last sentence of the original misstates the fact. As explained to me by Adjutant Aloisio it should be fully rendered thus: “To which they replied to me with an absolute refusal (to accept their freedom and a declaration) of wishing to prosecute their journey to Constantinople.”
Custom-House, April 17, 1872.
Most Illustrious Sir: I have the honor to inform you that yesterday at about 10 p.m. the Ottoman steamer Trabulus Garb, Captain V. Azzopardi, arrived in this port from Tripoli, and had among her passengers three slave women, accompanied by their masters, described in the list of passengers as their wives, to whom I said distinctly that in the British dominions they enjoyed the privilege of emancipation.
[Page 395]Zatima, of about 18 years of age, belonging to Musa bin Ahmed, asked to be emancipated. She was delivered from slavery, and sent back to Tripoli. The other two refused to be emancipated, and continued their journey to Constantinople.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Adjutant.
To the very illustrious Mr. R.
Bonello,
Superintendent of Police,
&c.
Valletta, 30 Ottobre, 1873. (1872.)
Sir: I have the honor to report for your information that on the arrival of each of the vessels mentioned with your instruction, I proceeded on board, and in the presence of Acting Inspector G. Gerada, and Sub-Inspectors S. Staines and Inglott, through an interpreter employed on each occasion, I obtained the following answers from the persons marked in the column No. — of said list, whom I have, in compliance with the said instructions, individually and separately examined, viz: That embarked at Tripoli and came to Malta of their own free will, and were proceeding to Stambul of their own free will, each expressing herself in the following words, which I fully understood, “Iena introp in-ruh fi Stambul,” (meaning, “I like to proceed to Stambul,”) and on being asked whether on board there was any one who was their master, or if on arrival at Stambul there would be any one who would be their master, they each answered negatively. I have further to add that several of those women were accompanied by men who from their dress and demeanor appeared to belong to the better classes, and who seemed to exercise some influence on those women. These men, questioned on their relation to those women, answered that the latter were their wives, and the circumstance was confirmed by the women when again questioned by me on the subject.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Adjutant.
R. Bonello, Esq., Sup. of Police, &c.
Report of Moors arrived at Malta as stated hereunder, that is, of those suspected of being slaves
| Date of arrival. | Names of vessels. | From whence. | No. of Moors. | |
| Feb. | 17, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | Tripoli | 11 |
| Mar. | 16, 1872 | British steamship Abeasis | do | |
| Mar. | 31, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | |
| April | 16, 1872 | British steamship Abeasis | do | |
| May | 3, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 5 |
| May | 13, 1872 | British steamship Abeasis | do | 8 |
| May | 20, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 8 |
| May | 22, 1872 | British steamship Erl Cunning | Constantinople | 1 |
| June | 7, 1872 | British steamship Ris Noris | Tripoli | 13 |
| June | 9, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 30 |
| June | 21, 1872 | do | do | 16 |
| July | 18, 1872 | do | do | 30 |
| July | 15, 1872 | British bark Emm’l Scielura | do | 8 |
| July | 30, 1872 | British steamer Abeasis | do | 25 |
| July | 31, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 17 |
| Aug. | 17, 1872 | British steamship Raffaeli | do | 26 |
| Sept. | 3, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 52* |
| Oct. | 4, 1872 | do | do | 25 |
| Oct. | 23, 1872 | Ottoman brig Maschalli | do | 8 |
| Oct. | 24, 1872 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 20 |
| Nov. | 11, 1872 | do | do | 20 |
| Jan. | 12, 1873 | Ottoman steamship Villayet | do | 2 |
| Mar. | 11, 1873 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 5 |
| April | 7, 1873 | do | do | 6 |
| April | 17, 1873 | do | do | 1 |
| May | 1, 1873 | do | do | 3 |
| May | 8, 1873 | Ottoman steamship Villayet | do | 4 |
| May | 22, 1873 | Ottoman brig Maseialls | do | 3 |
| May | 22, 1873 | Ottoman steamship Trabulus Gharb | do | 14 |
| Total | 361 | |||
Mr. Vidal to Mr. Davis.
Tripoli, Barbary, March 22, 1873. (Received April 29.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, this day, of your dispatch No. 22, informing me that it would be desirable to put the Department in possession of more explicit facts in regard to the slave traffic between Tripoli and Constantinople via Malta. When it is considered that a consul in Mussulman countries can neither take testimony from any but his own protegés, nor apply to any colleague or Mahomedan magistrate to make an affidavit in cases in which his protegés are not concerned, the Department will readily appreciate how difficult it would be for me to produce any judiciary proofs in support of the statements contained in my dispatch No. 27. Moreover, I beg to remind the Department that most of those slaves exported from here are females, and that it is positively forbidden by the laws and usages of the country that a Christian man should speak to a Moslem woman.
Nevertheless, I don’t say that it would be impossible to give the satisfactory algel proofs, only it might take time; it would require a certain outlay of money which I am not authorized by the Department to spend; and I should have leave to move as I think proper, between Tripoli, Malta, Constantinople, and Smyrna. But first may I be allowed to ask what fact the Department would wish me to prove. Is it that there are negro slaves imported from countries without the pale of the Turkish sovereignty, and bought and sold either here or in Constantinople? I can, at a fortnight’s notice, have two or three scores of those unfortunate beings purchased at prices ranging from $24 to $36 a head, put on board a vessel and shipped for any country in the world. But what would that prove? I could not make an affidavit against myself; and were one of my employés to buy those slaves himself, I might establish his own guilt, but not that of any one else.
But perhaps it would be more interesting to prove that those slaves are imported through Malta and, for all we know, that they change hands in that British island. It is not to be forgotten that by virtue of Article I of our treaty of 1862 with Great Britain, the reciprocal right of search and detention can be exercised, near the coast of Africa, only “to the southward of the thirty-second parallel of north latitude,” and that Tripoli is considerably north of that line.
Were I to follow a lot of slaves as far as Malta, I would wish to be authorized to act without connection with our consulate in that island, for the following reason: The climate of Soudan being so much hotter than that of Constantinople, the negro slaves from the interior of Africa are generally exported to Turkey in summer time, in order that the change of climate should be less trying to them. Now during those summer months our consul in Malta is compelled, on account of ill health, to leave the consulate in charge of a gentleman who is a very active and able person, who knows everything that goes on in the island, and is perfectly well aware that there are thousands of slaves carried from Barbary to the Bosphorus, via that British possession. But he is an Englishman; he never put his foot in our country, and to him the political interest of the United States is as nought, while he feels, of course, as all Englishmen do, the liveliest sympathy for the good name of his own country and government.
There is not an Englishman here, in Malta, or in Turkey, who does not know as well as I the existence of the traffic I am now denouncing. The newspapers of Europe have all said something about it; telegrams in regard to that trade have been sent from Constantinople to the four quarters of the continent; but I never heard till this afternoon of an Englishman, in authority in these countries, moving one finger to put an end to that shameful traffic.
But, this very afternoon, by a coincidence which I am at a loss to explain, one of the interpreters of the British consulate, who lives out of the city, very near the seashore, happening to see, by chance, a few black children, who were crying as they were nut on board a boat, which took them directly to a brig just in the act of weighing anchor, took his horse, rode with all speed to the British consulate, reported what he had seen; the consul-general communicated the information to the governor-general; the latter sent, in all haste, a custom-house boat after the brig, and, twenty miles from port, as the wind was against her, they caught her. She proved to be the Ottoman brig Malmaison—captain, Ali Salah—which was on her way to Malta, with a cargo of barley and four or five negro slaves as passengers. The vessel was taken back to port, her captain arrested, and an investigation made at once. It was ascertained that one of those slaves was a young girl kidnapped from her mother two or three days before, and another one belonged to the harbor-master himself. In the evening the master of the brig was authorized to proceed to Malta, and the captain of the port was dismissed; so, at least, it is reported. This fact will go far to prove, at any rate, that slavers from Tripoli to Constantinople are not afraid to take the way of Malta. It is also rumored that the authorities in that island will henceforth exert the greatest vigilance in regard to that trade. If such is the case, I cannot understand why they should this [Page 397] very time be so strict, while they have for more than twenty years willingly shut their eyes. Nor can I understand the secret spring of the action of the British consul here, and the governor’s; for those gentlemen, all at once so much interested, in appearance, to suppress the slave-traffic, knew since their arrival here of its being extensively carried on, and never, to my knowledge, attempted to interfere.
However, it may be stopped for a while, for a purpose now unknown to me; but it will soon revive; and it becomes the United States Government, supported, as it is, by four millions of black citizens, to place itself before the civilized world as the special protector of the African race.
Now, it is publicly known here that nearly every Turkish officer or functionary who leaves this place for Constantinople, or sends his family to Turkey, will not fail to improve every one of those opportunities, by sending along a lot of slaves intended for sale. But the worst negro-trafficant in Tripoli is a Moor, to whom I alluded in my dispatch No. 35, as having assisted the pashas of this regency in grinding the people with oppressive taxes. He is the owner of the Trabulus Gharb, a steamer which plies pretty regularly between Malta and this port. At every trip, just one or two minutes before the vessel is ready to start from this port, a number of women, carefully shrouded in their blankets, wearing stockings, so that the color of their feet cannot be seen, hiding their hands in the folds of their baracans, and with the head entirely wrapped in a thick colored handkerchief, leave the quay under the care of a man. They are put in a boat belonging to the Moor, and brought on board the steamer. During the journey, no one is allowed to speak to those mysterious beings; and at Valetta, instead of going on shore, as all other passengers do, they remain on board the steamer until they can be taken to another one, just weighing anchor, for Constantinople; or a sailing-vessel, belonging, too, to the Moor, is just at hand to receive them.
I will not conclude this letter without informing you that I was told by a merchant, just arrived with a Ghadames caravan, that the Sultan of Borgoo, or Dâs-sali-Wadâi, having just successfully invaded the neighboring territory of Bagharmi, enslaved all its population, and carried them away to his own country; in consequence we may expect to see slaves of that kind as cheap as sheep, for some time to come, in Cairo and Constantinople. The invaded territory is comprised between the 13th and 10th degrees of north latitude, and the 39th and 40th degrees of the East Faroe longitude. The conqueror reigns in the territory situated between the Bagharmi in the east and the Dâr-foor’s land in the west.
Awaiting your instructions in regard to that question,
I am, &c.,