Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the King of Portugal and the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1879

This investigation comes as part of His Highness’s continuous scientific efforts to serve researchers and specialists interested in the history and heritage of Zanzibar and the Arabian Gulf, by presenting a distinguished collection of serious historical studies, which have become an important source for anyone wishing to write about the history of the region.
In the introduction to the book, His Highness says: “Among a collection of manuscript images that I extracted from the Academy of Sciences in Lisbon, Portugal, I found a manuscript treaty under number: 420, between the King of Portugal and the Sultan of Zanzibar, Sayyid Barghash bin Said, dated the ninth of Dhu al-Qi’dah in the year 1296 AH, corresponding to the twenty-fifth of October of the year 1879 AD, so I verified it due to its importance for the history of Tanzania, especially Zanzibar.”
His Highness explains (Zanzibar and the coasts extending from Cape Guardafui north of Mogadishu, to Cape Delgado south at the border with Mozambique, and west to the lakes, were considered the African region of the Omani Empire alongside the region of Oman. With the death of Imam Said bin Sultan on October 19, 1856, that empire was divided by the British on April 12, 1861, between his two sons, Sayyid Thuwaini, who was granted the rule of Oman, and Sayyid Majid, who was granted Zanzibar and the coasts, on the condition that he pay Sayyid Thuwaini an amount of 40,000 crowns annually. The British Queen's Viceroy said at the time: In my opinion, if Zanzibar is ruled wisely, it can play an important role in the future, trade, and civilization of East Africa. The only state between Port Natal (in South Africa) and Ras Guardafui, for which any progress or stability is hoped, is Zanzibar.
With the death of Sayyid Majid bin Said, Sultan of Zanzibar and the coasts in 1870, the rule of Zanzibar and the coasts passed to Sayyid Barghash bin Said, whose rule from 1870 to 1888 was one of progress and stability.
This agreement between Sultan Barghash, Sultan of Zanzibar, and the King of Portugal proves that progress and stability, which his state sought to approach Sultan Barghash to conclude this economic agreement, due to Zanzibar's flourishing economy.