The Sultan's Spymaster by Judy Aldrick

from Coastweek-- Many books have been written about the history of Zanzibar from 1850 to 1900, but these books focus almost entirely on the role of the European powers and their relationship with the Sultans.

Left out of these histories is any mention of the important role played by Indian merchants and politicians.

This new book attempts to fill in the missing information by looking at the role of Indians during this complex period of Zanzibar history.

The main character in this intriguing book is a man named Peera Dewjee.

He was born in India in 1841 and lived until 1904. Much of his life was spent in Zanzibar during the years when European nations were taking an active interest in Zanzibar and the eastern coast of Africa.

He started out as a lowly labourer for Sultan Barghash and over the years rose to become a prominent advisor to four different Sultans.

Although raised in India, Peera Dewjee was a Muslim belonging to the sect called Nizari Ismaili.

The founder was an Iranian missionary named Pir Sadruddin who traveled to India at the end of the 14th century and converted many Hindus to Islam.

These Indian converts called themselves Khojas and they organized themselves into a close-knit community based in Bombay.

Their Imam was later referred to as the Aga Khan, a title still used by subsequent Imams to this day.

Their society was based on trade with an annual tithe paid to the Aga Khan.

Close trade links were set up between Bombay and Zanzibar with many Ismailis eventually settling on Zanzibar where they became prominent members of society.

Peera Dewjee was raised in Bombay and was well educated.

He knew how to read and write and spoke numerous languages including Arabic, English, Hindustani and Urdu.

As a young man he moved to Zanzibar where he lived with relatives in the Khoja community.

Eventually he got a job in the Sultan’s palace as a lamp cleaner and barber.

Over time he earned the trust of Sultan Barghash and worked his way up to the roles of messenger, spy, chief steward, advisor and ambassador.

He even travelled to England with the Sultan to meet Queen Victoria.

When Sultan Barghash died, Peera Dewjee continued to serve as advisor to the three following Sultans in turn.

In spite of his great influence during this jumbled period of history, Peera Dewjee remained a shadowy figure, hidden in the background of Zanzibar politics.

The author of this book, Judy Aldrick, has done extensive research in libraries and through interviews.

Her research is to be commended as Peera Dewjee is revealed through the haze of Zanzibar history.

In later life Peera Dewjee was a significant figure in Zanzibar politics.

He had the ear of the various Sultans and was at the forefront in dealing with British, French and German ambassadors.

He was involved in negotiating many treaties - especially in ending the slave trade.

He was considered to be a smooth and able politician - often playing one side against another.

During his career he continued to be a successful merchant and businessman.

At various times he was the manager of the Sultan’s steamship line and collector of customs tribute at the port.

Above all he was a highly skilled organizer. At the installment of Sultan Hamoud, he planned the festivities, called Siku Kuu in Swahili.

He organized a feast in the Sultan’s palace for 8,000 people.

Over 10,000 plates were used at this feast and 55 different entries were served.

It took over 300 cooks to prepare the food. For such feats he was often referred to as the “Majordomo to the Sultans.”

This book is a fascinating history of Zanzibar as seen through the eyes of Peera Dewjee, an Indian merchant and confidant of the Sultans.

For a new and insightful look into the history of Zanzibar, I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Jon Arensen, Professor Emeritus, Houghton College

Princess Salme of Zanzibar

Early one day in 1866 a young woman dressed in the black bui-bui robes of a Muslim stepped onto the Zanzibar town beach near Shangani Point. (Shangani means 'the place of beads'). She had the posture of a royal person, purposeful and erect for she was a Princess of Zanzibar. However she was also the daughter of a slave. Her name was Princess Salme bint Said and her father was the greatest Sultan of Zanzibar and Oman, Sultan Said al Busaid and her mother, Jilfidan, a Circassian concubine of the harem. Her half-brother was the current Zanzibar Sultan, Majid bin Said and the next sultan, Sultan Barghash bin Said another brother. 

Following Princess Salme were two servant women. Ostensibly she was there to take part in a religious ceremony, a formal washing in the sea. In fact she was there to elope, to save her life, for she was an unmarried woman and pregnant. Furthermore, she had formed a relationship with an infidel, a German Christian. The step she was taking might save her life but would change it for ever. So dangerous was her plan that she had not even told her trusted servants what she was about to do.

A rowing boat from a British warship approached the shore. Two men leapt out into the shallow tropical water. Salme’s servants screamed in terror at the strange white men and tried to pull their mistress away but she escaped their clutches, ran to the boat and was carried aboard. She did not wail and scream as they did.

Princess Salme carried with her a small bag containing all her jewels and gold. She must have realised that it was unlikely that she would ever return and in that bag she secreted a small container of sand – the pure white tropical sand of Zanzibar. It would be found in her possessions when she died 58 years later. 

Alastair Hazell described the story in his book, 'The Last Slave Market' as follows,

"The first day of the Muslim year was known in Zanzibar as Nauruzi or Siku ya Mwaka, and on that night it was customary for the women to bathe in the sea and pray for good health in the coming year. In 1866, Nauruzi fell on 24 August, and that was the night planned for Seyyida Salme to leave Zanzibar....After dark, she and two of her slaves went down to the beach, and no one paid much attention as they walked into the shallow water. During the festival there was much fooling around, laughter and high spirits, so when one of the slave girls was heard running from the beach shrieking loudly, no one took any notice. But the next day the Highflyer (British Navy) left her anchorage, sailing during the night without the usual notification, and Seyyida Salme had not returned to her house."

Sharing the Stories

The Beit al-Ajaib or House of Wonders dominates Zanzibar's seafront. It was built in 1883 by Sultan Barghash bin Said as a ceremonial palace.

There are many people, older now, who grew up in the old Zanzibar: the Zanzibar of the 1950s and 1960s. Maybe those people would like to share some of their memories. This blog is to focus on gathering and remembering those times. If you would like to take part in this, with your memories and stories, please contact me.