THE SLAVE SUPPLY. 



463 



estimated at two-thirds of the population ; some 

 travellers increase the number to three-fourths. 

 The annual loss of males by death, export, and 

 desertion, amounted, I was told, to 30 per cent., 

 thus within every fourth year the whole gang 

 upon a plantation required to be renewed. The 

 actual supply necessary for the Island is now 

 estimated at a total varying from 1700 to 6000, 

 and leaving 12,000 to 16,000 for the export slave- 

 market. As usual in Moslem lands, they may be 

 divided into two distinct classes : first, the Mu- 

 wallid or Mutawallid, the Mazaliya of the Wasa- 

 wahili, the famulus or slave born in the family, 

 or rather on the Island ; secondly, the captive or 

 imported chattel. 



The Muwallid belongs solely to his mother's 

 owner, who sells him or gives him away at plea- 

 sure. Under no circumstances can he claim 

 manumission — one born a slave is a slave for 

 ever, even in the next world, amongst those 

 nations which, lil^e the Dahomans, have a next 

 world. If notoriously ill-treated, however, he 

 may compel his proprietor to dispose of him. 

 Few Arabs behave cruelly to their 6 sons ; 9 they 

 fear desertion, which here is always easy, and 

 the master, besides being dependent for comfort 

 upon his household, is also held responsible for 



