“AND SEEN THE SLAVE SET FREE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1930, Page 3

“AND SEEN THE SLAVE SET FREE.”

Over half a century ago a little African boy who had been seined by Arab slave raiders was rescued by. the--Bri-tish ship.-' Osprey in the Persian Gulf from the'-sJave. dhow on which he was imprisoned (says the London correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor”). He and a companion were given work ion the gunboat and a yeai later they were transferred to IT.M.S. Bacchante)-' ■:• The boy ..served for some years on this vessel as the admiial s punkah boy, during which period the young British Prince.,, wh’o is now King George V. of England, and his brother served as cadets on the vessel while it was patrolling the East. African Coast to put clown the slave trade. The little boy grew up and was one of the first Africans to become-an Anglican clergyman. . To-day he feels that his people do'ftht remember as they - might the old days of slavery. - In the last number of the “Nya-ssnlnud Diocesan a Tetter from the- Rev- Petro Kilekwa, of Mfcdpe "Hill; NyaSsaland, as the little'slave‘boy now is known. “There is no sign’of’slave dealers now in East African Waters, dr even in the towns on tlie'African--coast. Now we Africans/men and women, old and children, are enjoying our freedom in peace under the British flag, It ■■seems to me that on behalf-of my, African brothers and.jesters we cannot keep our eyes andiininds shutj if we do we shall he ungrateful.. A\e can’t let this duty of freeing us from slavery pass unnotic- , ed. It is our duty to pay tribute from our heart, and to pen the words of thanks to His Majesty the King and all naval officers for their past duty.