THE BROKEN UP SLAVE-TRADERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 81

THE BROKEN UP SLAVE-TRADERS.

Sir Harry Johnston, in the Windsor Magazine for January, describes the last encounter the forces of the British Central Africa Protectorate had with the Arabs, who had been for years raiding Nyasaland for slaves to supply the Zanzibar market. The country, under British rule, had been pretty well cleared of Arabs, and there only remained the raiders at the south of Tanganyika, under the leadership of Mlozi (the magician). It took place in December, 1895. "Mlozi," -writes Sir Harry, "had been preparing a force which should sweep down on the African Lakes Company's station at Karonga, and on the adjoining mission stations, and destroy all the whites of North Nyasaland. He bad captured some 500 natives, to be the workmen in his fortifications, or, where they were chiefs of importance, to be hostages for the neutrality of the surrounding negroes ; and it. was this last overt act of hostility more than the humours of his intentions against the whites which had caused us to plan out operations at the south end of Lake Nyasa with rapidity and secrecy. The German Government and the African Lakes Company together lent three steamers, to which were added the two small Protectorate gunboats. With these five steamers and three or four sailing boats, we started' from different points on the south shores of the lake, and, arriving simultaneously at Karonga, we landed suddenly 400 picked Indian and negro soldiers, with their white officers. From this point with only a few hours delay, we started to march on the Arab strongholds, which were 14 miles from the lake shore. "The Arabs concentrated all their forces, their numbers, their provisions, their ammunition in the big town of Mapata, which had been slowly prepared for years past to resist the attack of Europeans. Ma-pata had a circumference of nearly a mile Mlozi had caused wells to be dug within the circumference of the fortified itovra and thefse, together with the Sundant rainfall, kept the besieged (sufficiently supplied with water. The siege was carried on precarious!.; till on tie fourth day, -a. 12-pounder gun was brought to bear on houses within the

enclosure. "Suddenly from the gateways of the ramparts and from every available means of exit poured swarms of men, some armed with guns or rifles, tiring at us as fast as they could load, others weaponless, simply seeking flight and s&fety. This mad sortie nearly overwhelmed oar camp." Not only was the sortie repelled, but a rush made on the town, and the position carried after a desperate 6et-to. As many of the Arabs as oould get away took flight. Quite a multitude of female slaves were rescued — all the men had been slaughtered by the 1 ATabs. Then arcee the question, What had become of Mloii? "A stir, a rumour about -"the' camp, voices raised in wonderment, wonderment changed to shrieks of delight and frenzied cheers, and into the lamp-lit circle of the squalid yard, with its sodden fence of reeds, marched Bandawe, one of the notabilities of the expedition, dragging after him, roped and hobbled, Mlozi, the Arab leader. Bandawe was a native of the west coa-st of Nyasa, and is still a notable character in Nyasaland. He was originally taught by one of the Scotch mission schools, where he acquired an excellent knowledge of English and a devotion to music, especially to organ-playing and the singing of hymns. He had become overseer to a European planter when I first arrived in this land, but he had attracted my attention by his remarkable knowledge of African languages and of English. First of all interpreter in my expeditions, lie had become a sergeant-major in the native army, and was a very valuable, intelligent officer. Bandawe picked up gossip from all directions, and seemed to talk with equal ease to friend and foe. Somehow or other he had learnt that in a corner of the square of Mlozi's house was a trapdoor, and below this an underground cellar. When our party had ceased investigating Mlozi's house, Bandawe, alone and unaided, found this trap-door, concealed under a large bed ; and pulling it open, and cautiously descending a few steps, had seen Mlozi crouching in a corner of th«~ cellar. Threatening him with instant death with his revolver if he made the least resistance, he bad captured the Arab, tied him up with scrips of hia own cotton garments, and eventuaily, with the aid of a few soldiers, had brought him into our camp."