Records of Correspondence of Sultan Barghash, Sultan of Zanzibar

Including some in his own handwriting, 1296 AH - 1878 CE

In the book's introduction, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi states: "I discovered a manuscript (Records of Correspondence of Sultan Barghash, Sultan of Zanzibar, including some in his own handwriting) at the Egyptian National Archives in Cairo. The Egyptian National Archives dated it to the first correspondence recorded in that register." His Highness added: "In 2012, I published letters from the Sultans of Zanzibar, which I had collected from the British Library. These included incoming and outgoing letters of the Sultans of Zanzibar, after their authentication. Among these letters were some specifically from Sultan Barghash, comprising the exchanged correspondence between Sultan Barghash and British officials.
As for the (Records of Correspondence of Sultan Barghash), they pertain to internal affairs and were recorded in the Western style, where the contents of the letters are entered into the register. If the official responsible for the register was absent, Sultan Barghash would record these correspondences in his own handwriting."
His Highness then describes the personal characteristics of Sultan Barghash, which emerge from studying these correspondences, saying: "By studying the register of these correspondences, Sultan Barghash's personality becomes clear to us. He was a cultured man who requested foreign newspapers and valuable Arabic books. He was firm in his rule; after advice came a decisive decision. He would write to his governors: 'The subjects deserve leniency and endurance.' He followed social issues and worked to resolve them, imposing punishment on every transgressor or aggressor. He provided his governors with seals and endorsements to make their letters official, and supplied them with salaries, allowances, and provisions. He also supplied tribal leaders with weapons to protect their tribes."
His Highness also highlights in the book's introduction Sultan Barghash's keenness to develop his sultanate and his involvement in the most minute details related to it, stating: "He intervened in the most minute details regarding the development and construction of the Sultanate, especially in the mainland (East African coast)."
His Highness emphasizes the importance of these correspondences in the book for researchers, saying: "Therefore, I have authenticated these correspondences for the benefit of students and researchers in East African affairs."