MEN OF THE TREES 



it." Before the British ships departed the Sheikh, or Sul- 

 tan, begged Captain Vidal to authorize them to hoist the 

 British Flag and place the town and territory in the 

 hands of his Britannic Majesty. For some unknown rea- 

 son this request was not granted, and on the 7th Decem- 

 ber 1823, the two ships sailed away. Whether some of 

 the local inhabitants persuaded the crew to sell them a 

 flag, or whether they made one or stole it, is unknown, 

 but, mystery of mysteries, on the return voyage the 

 British colours were found to be flying on the Fort of 

 Mombasa. Captain Owen went on shore and the Arabs 

 acknowledged having hoisted the British colours without 

 authority, but unanimously craved permission to place 

 the whole country under the protection of the British 

 Nation. It is said that Captain Owen informed them 

 that provided they would assent to the abolition of the 

 Slave Trade, he would transmit their proposal to his 

 Government for their decision, and that he would have 

 no objection to holding the place in the meantime. 



"To these conditions," states the historian, "they read- 

 ily assented, and made a formal cession of their island 

 Pamba, and the country reaching from Malindi to Pan- 

 gani." The Third Lieutenant, Mr. John James Reitz, was 

 made Commandant of Mombasa. 



Such is the story, as we may be tolerably certain that 

 no sooner had His Majesty's Ships "Barracouta" and 

 "Levan" sailed from the Port of Mombasa on 7th De- 

 cember 1823 than the British Flag was hoisted. 



There was a notable gathering inspired by a suggestion 



102 



