Of the British vessels, 1 steamship, of 1,540 tons, and 4 sailing vessels, of 3,900 tons, entered from, and 3 sailing vessels, of 800 tons, cleared for England. One French steamer, of 1,000 tons, entered from and cleared for France. One steamer under the Arabian flag entered from England. The total direct tonnage between Zanzibar and the principal countries was as follows: With England, 7,320 tons; with the United States, 4,138 tons; with Germany, 3,392 tons; with France, 2,000 tons; the remaining tonnage was with Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Cape "Town, &c. Consul Batchelder says that England leads the world in trade with Zanzibar, owing to her steam facilities. British cottons sell largely, as well as manufactured iron, nails, wire, powder, canned goods, &c. A reference to British statistics fails to confirm this statement as far as direct trade with the island is concerned, although the large tonnage trade between the island and the British possessions of Cape Colony, India, and Mauritius substantiates, doubtless, Consul Batchelder's esti mate of the predominance of English trade in Zanzibar. British official reports make no specific mention of imports and exports from and to Zanzibar, the trade therewith being included in the general trade with the East Coast Native States. The total trade of England with the "East Coast,"-which embraces the Portuguese possessions, Zanguebar, and Ajan-from Natal to Cape Guardafui, on the main land, and the island of Zanzibar, was as follows during the year 1880: Consul Hathorne, who represented the United States at Zanzibar at the time, prepared a statement, from sources outside the government, showing the imports into Zanzibar during the years 1876, 1877, 1878, and 1879. Although it is probable that the estimates given in Mr. Hathorne's statement are somewhat in excess of the present imports of the island, a republication thereof will, in the absence of any later statistics, enable our merchants to appreciate the volume and variety of the trade. It must be borne in mind that Zanzibar is not only important in itself as a consuming market, but as a basis from which to supply the wants of the Native States and Portuguese settlements on the main coast. Grand total from May 219, 850 2,974, 100 3, 166, 200 3, 013, 130 9,373, 280 6, 1876, to Septem30, 1879. Specie France, Germany, India. Persian Gulf. United States, France. France, Madagascar. Do. British India. France, Germany. India, Malta, Cape Town. England, France. England, India. 71,500 349,000 225,000 615, 500 Total for three years; from British India and Madagascar. 950 1,450 4,000 6,650 2,500 7,100 France. 6, 200 21,000 36,000 1,450 6, 200 21, 850 58,500 5,650 Germany, England. Germany, England. 11, 250 33, 200 Of the cotton goods specified in the foregoing table, viz, $983,000, nearly one-half were American, while of the calicoes and prints it does not appear that any were American. Of the total imports into the island during 1879, $650,000 were American products and manufactures imported direct; how much more were introduced through the courtesy of England, France, and Germany, it is impossible to estimate. Consul Batchelder says that many goods of American manufacture are received in the island by way of England, purchasers being unable to obtain them direct. Much of our present so-called direct trade with Zanzibar—that is, ordered from and by the United States-is by way of England. For instance, during the year 1880 the "direct" trade with the United States was effected as follows: Imports from the United States in American sailing vessels, $333,000; in English steamers, via England, $40,000. Exports to the United States: In American sailing vessels, $199,000; in British steamers, $753,000. The logic of this trade is plain. British steamers make no effort to compete for the outgoing trade, preferring to carry British rather than American manufactures to Zanzibar. For the return trade, however, these same steamers take freight for the United States at rates which render it impossible for American sailing vessels to accept, and so these have to leave Zanzibar in ballast to find employment elsewhere. By these means British steamers have freight both ways, while the American sailing vessels have only outgoing freight. This, of course, detracts much of the profits from our export trade with Zanzibar, and places us at great disadvantages as compared with England and France, with their direct steam communication. The total imports of Zanzibar may be estimated at about $3,000,000, and the exports at $2,500,000, of which latter the United States received in 1881 $1,123,000, nearly twice the value of our purchases therefrom in 1879. A reference to the statement by articles, showing the exports to the United States, heretofore given, will enable our importers to note the nature of the general exports of the island. COMMERCE OF MADAGASCAR. Owing to the fact that no government statistics are kept concerning imports and exports, the collection of customs being farmed out, it is impossible to give more than an approximation of the value of the foreign commerce of Madagascar. The trade of the principal countries with Madagascar during the year 1880 was as follows: The total of the French trade given above is credited in the French official publications to the French settlements of Mayotte, Nossi-Be, and Sainte Marie de Madagascar. It would therefore seem that there is very little, if any, direct trade between France and Madagascar proper. Judging by the navigation returns, the trade between Germany and Madagascar must be greater than that between England and Madagascar. The navigation between the United States and Madagascar, however, shows much more tonnage than that between all Europe and Madagascar; it follows, therefore, omitting the French possessions, that the United States, to a large extent, controls its foreign trade. How have we succeeded in securing so large a share in the trade of Madagascar! By the application of similar means to the acquisition of a share in the trade of the entire Southern Division of Africa, from Cape Verde down the West Coast to British South Africa, and thence to Cape Guardafui, embracing the East Coast and adjacent islands, a trade in nearly all respects of the same characteristics, would not similar results ensue? Notwithstanding the comparatively satisfactory condition of our trade in Madagascar, it is composed almost wholly of brown sheetings and shirtings, and the success thereof is entirely due to the energy of three firms, who supply the wants of the island in this regard, and to the flattering fact that, owing to the superior quality of American cotton manufactures, the natives will have no others. The only other goods imported from the United States are kerosene, flour, shooks, chairs, a few sewing-machines, and some provisions. Consul Robinson, of Tamatave, has repeatedly reported upon the feasibility of enlarging our trade in Madagascar by the introduction of a variety of manufactures and products now supplied by other countries, and as the success of special efforts for the enlargement of our trade here would be a fair criterion by which to measure our ability to increase our trade along the coast of the whole Southern Division above recounted, the views of our consul upon the best means of attaining so desirable a consummation are submitted at length. Commenting upon the meagerness of British trade in Madagascar, the British consul at Tamatave wrote as follows in October, 1879: Another cause for depression in British trade has been the large importation of American gray cotton sheetings to Tamatave. The likelihood of this competition was predicted by me as far back as 1870, when the attention of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce was called, at my instance, to the preference generally given by the natives to this description of cotton fabrics, and the consequent necessity for British manufacturers to be "up and stirring" if they desired to compete with American producers. But Manchester manufacturers did nothing in the matter, and their goods have therefore now been so completely supplanted that British firms who formerly imported largely Manchester gray cottons now deal almost exclusively in American cloths; indeed, one British merchant at Tamatave has become agent to a Boston firm, and receives their cotton goods on consignment. Although it appears very doubtful whether the prices lately obtained leave any profit to the importers of American sheetings, still considerable gains are said to be realized on the return cargoes of hides and rubber taken in by American vessels at Tamatave, and of dates shipped by them at Muscat, which latter produce is chiefly purchased with the specie derived from the sale of American cotton goods in Mada gascar. HOW TO INCREASE AMERICAN TRADE IN MADAGASCAR. I have suggested heretofore the establishment at this port of an American wholesale and retail house in American general merchandise-no institution of that kind has ever been known here-and that such house should also be in condition to do a commission business in American specialties and novelties. I will now add that such house should be prepared to do a coasting trade with one or more small vessels; a small steamer of not more than 100 or 150 tons burden, arranged for burning either wood or coal, would be better than several sailing coasters.. Even a steamer much smaller would do a good business. Such a house should either do this itself or connect itself with other parties in such coasting trade. I will remark here, parenthetically, that the American brown cottons which have heretofore nearly all gone to the capital market (Antananarivo, 150 miles in the interior) have, during the last year, found a larger market on the coast, both north and south, than ever before, and that growing demand has tended toward making up the loss of the usual demand for the capital market, caused by the political matters above referred to. As to these cottons and kerosene, they had their struggle for introduction into this market long since, and that fight is over; they need aid neither from consul nor government at present. American brown cotton is king here, and even the foreign merchants, including the English, bow in allegiance. But how long is the reign going to last? How long be fore the English manufacturers will learn to imitate the grade of that article that our exporters have introduced here? A few Americans commenced bringing goods here, and soon found a demand for certain grades of our unbleached sheetings and shirtings; and, notwithstanding the determined opposition from the European and creole merchants, who had kept and continued to keep the market full of English brown cottons, these Americans, by persistent effort, finally succeeded in driving the English article out. But as the demand for this line of goods, and for kerosene oil at Madagascar, Zanzibar, and other ports in these parts proved to be sufficient to keep their vessels and capital employed, they have not wished to handle other goods on their own account, nor will they take freight for others, except now and then some small article or quantity as an act of courtesy and special favor. They also seem to act as though thinking Madagascar to be a hidden place of trade, and that it would be in some way prejudicial to their interests to have the secret divulged. It is remarked that their vessels seldom, if ever, clear for Tamatave; it is either for Aden or Zanzibar, or for ports east of the Cape, even when they are sent direct from New York or Boston to this port. If such management was only for the purpose of blinding European competitors, I should, of course, say nothing; but that is not the case. They have no fears of injury to their line from the European trade. It is partially due to the competition here between American houses themselves, and between them and others, all handling this line of American goods, and partially to the fear that if more Americans should come here to trade, even though they might come with the intention to deal in general merchandise, and not in brown cottons, it would have a tendency to lessen the amount of sales of the old firms in some manner, or at least would take from them a portion of the products for exportation, for which there is sharp competition, as it is an important matter to get such for return cargoes. I think such fear is groundless. Such an establishment as I have suggested would neither divide nor draw from the present American trade, but would simply compete with that portion of the trade which now runs in European channels direct and through the colonies. And its success in that competition would depend wholly upon its management, operating with a sufficient amount of capital. I must not lead any party astray in this matter, and induce the sending of goods here upon uncertainties. Therefore let no one think of sending a general cargo with the expectation of finding purchasers with ready pay for large quantities at once; for the large importers are European firms who have partners or agents here, and established connections with manufacturers and shippers in Europe. Such houses do not wish to handle such American goods as would conflict with their European trade, and could not be expected to give such goods a fair trial. The American importers, as before said, will not handle general merchandise, and the multitude of smaller traders have not the means to purchase largely for ready pay. I must state, however, as an exception to the foregoing, that there is one gentleman here, a creole merchant, who has accumulated a handsome capital by a long period of trade in general merchandise on this coast, with headquarters at this port, who tells me that he is not only willing to handle American goods, but would like much to receive on consignment American commodities of all kinds, and would do his best to place them; that he is not tied to the trade of any nationality, and has no prejudices against American trade, nor predilection for that of one country more than another; and if American manufacturers or shippers wish to introduce their wares here, and can manage to send them out to him on consignment, he will give them a fair trial on liberal terms as to commission, &c. But here is involved one of the difficulties referred to above to be surmounted before Americans can get goods out here in a way that will enable them to compete with the European trade. It is the lack of direct communication. This one obstacle has already prevented the introduction of many thousands of dollars' worth of American general merchandise and specialties, which would have been ordered in small quantities from time to time had there been any way of getting them shipped direct. I am frequently asked if I can manage to get such and such articles or invoices of goods brought out, such as sewing-machines, musical instruments, sugar and rice mills, butter, cheese, canned goods, and, in fact, most all kinds of provisions and dry goods. I sent off one order a short time ago for $200 worth of millinery goods; another for a cooking stove; another for a heating stove and wool blankets for curing vanilla; another for provisions, &c., for different parties. But it is doubtful if the owners of the vessels which come here will permit them to be shipped. There are a number of creole retailers here with limited means who would send small orders frequently for goods in their respective lines if there were any means of getting them brought out. Another difficulty is the lack of facilities of exchange. In this, as well as in getting the goods brought, the purchasers are forced to depend upon the favor of the American wholesale firms dealing, as before stated, exclusively in brown cottons, and who neither wish to take freight for others nor to have their agents draw on their home houses, as they do not want their money sent home, but the productions of the East. But |