Chapter 77

Chapter 77: "Cargo" Arrives at Port

The port of Dar es Salaam served as a slave trading market jointly operated by the East African colonies and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, as it was not feasible to send slaves to Zanzibar Island for trade.

Azamu, a merchant, was presenting a group of Armenian women to colonial official Mark Villian for inspection. He boasted about the quality of these "goods," emphasizing their skills in farming and housework. The Armenian women were lined up like cattle for inspection.

Mark Villian, holding a wooden stick, carefully assessed the health of the women and was generally satisfied with their condition. After the inspection, he informed Azamu that they would purchase this batch of "goods" pending a physical examination.

Azamu, eager to secure a better deal, appealed to Mark Villian for a higher price, citing the costs involved in transporting the goods from the Ottoman Empire. Mark Villian acknowledged the challenges faced by Azamu but reminded him of the agreed-upon terms: one Armenian woman for seven indigenous women.

However, Mark Villian decided to provide an additional ten indigenous women, acknowledging the difficulties faced by Azamu and emphasizing their friendly relations.

Azamu accepted the offer but continued to express his regret for the "loss" he incurred in the deal. In reality, Azamu had profited from this venture, having faced little expense when acquiring the Armenian women from the Ottoman Empire.

In the Ottoman Empire, officials were eager to rid themselves of Armenian residents and used deceptive means to send Armenian women to Europe, where they worked under harsh conditions. These women were seen as commodities to be traded.

The Ottoman Empire had increasingly turned to using black slaves for various forms of labor, contributing to their economic prosperity. The East African colonies played a significant role in supplying these slaves.

The East African colonies benefited financially from selling indigenous people as slaves, while the Sultanate of Zanzibar profited from facilitating the trade. The Ottoman Empire gained access to cheap labor for production, and Arab merchants also profited from the trade.

Mark Villian later arranged for the Armenian women to be distributed throughout the East African colonies, and this "purge" campaign became a means of mobilizing Chinese immigrant soldiers. Incentives such as the distribution of wives were offered to encourage Chinese bachelors to join the colonial forces.

This strategy aimed to satisfy the basic needs of Chinese immigrants and encourage them to start families, as family life was highly valued. As the promise of obtaining wives attracted more Chinese immigrants to join the colonial army, their enthusiasm for the campaign grew.

The Chinese immigrants, driven by the hope of securing wives, actively participated in the campaign, particularly in the towns and villages where success would increase their chances of obtaining wives. This strategy successfully motivated the Chinese immigrant population.

(End of Chapter 77)