African Business Chronicles

Chapter 77: "Cargo" Arrives at Port

Dar es Salaam Port.

Slave Trading Market.

Although the Zanzibar Sultanate had been relocated to Zanzibar Island, the colony couldn't ship slaves there for trade.

Thus, the slave market at Dar es Salaam Port remained, co-managed by the East African colony and the Zanzibar Sultanate.

"Sir, take a look at this batch—absolutely top-notch. They've been carefully selected from the Ottoman Empire. Whether for farming or housework, they're excellent workers," Azam eagerly promoted his "goods."

The poor Armenian women, lined up like cattle, were inspected one by one by East African colonial officials.

Azam continued boasting, "They all lived in the mountainous regions of western Ottoman Empire. The environment there is far worse than East Africa—steep roads, barren soil, scarce water. So if you take them back, they'll be tough and low-maintenance."

Colonial officer Mark Vellian held a wooden stick, carefully inspecting the "goods." He lifted their faces with the stick, checking their condition.

Though visibly exhausted from the long sea journey, their health was acceptable. Mark Vellian was quite satisfied with their appearance.

"Mr. Azam, I've finished the inspection. They look fine. If our doctors find no major issues during check-up, we'll take the whole batch."

Azam quickly approached with a flattering smile. "Sir, since you like this batch and we've provided a decent quantity this time, could you possibly raise the price a bit?"

Mark Vellian responded sternly, "The price was agreed upon: one Armenian for seven natives. Any higher, and we'd be breaching the original deal."

Azam quickly explained, "Sir, you know how far the Ottoman Empire is from here. Shipping causes losses—both on the way here and back. And it's even worse when transporting more people back—the ship's conditions are rough."

Mark Vellian nodded thoughtfully. He wasn't a professional businessman and lacked the shrewdness for these negotiations.

After consulting his assistant, he replied, "Mr. Azam, we understand your situation. While I can't make all the decisions, in the name of our friendship, I'll authorize an extra ten natives beyond the agreed amount. But no more."

Azam sighed dramatically, "This really puts me in a tight spot, sir."

Then, shifting tone, he smiled, "But for the sake of our friendship, I'll take this 'loss' on the chin this time."

Though claiming it was a loss, Azam was overjoyed. His recent trip to the Ottomans had cost him practically nothing.

The Ottomans treated Armenian non-Muslims like vermin, far different from the rebellious Balkan Christians.

True to their nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong, Ottoman officials eagerly welcomed the Zanzibar merchants' request to purchase Armenian women—and even offered to throw in the men.

Unfortunately, the East African colony's real shortage was women. Otherwise, Ernst might've taken the men too.

Local Ottoman officials went all out. In Armenian areas, they raided homes. Smart ones tricked women with fake jobs in Europe. The lazy just grabbed them. Any man who resisted was executed on the spot.

Zanzibar traders paid only two castrated African natives for each Armenian woman.

Due to the cheap labor market, the Ottoman Empire had begun using Black slaves in production—plowing fields, mining, building monuments, and living in luxury.

These slaves were cheap, disposable, and so dark-skinned that escape was nearly impossible.

This lowered their dependence on European machines and goods. With enough slaves, wealth could be mass-produced.

Some labor-intensive industries even gained an edge over Europe, exporting handmade goods back to the continent.

The cost? Massive slave mortality. Working day and night, fed worse than pigs, most died when sick.

But the Ottomans didn't worry. With the East African colony's supply, there was always more where they came from.

Ernst didn't care about the fate of these slaves once they left East Africa. None would return.

Zanzibar merchants, after covering sea losses and paying off Ottoman officials with natives, kept the rest to sell on the market.

Everyone profited: the East African colony, Zanzibar, the Ottomans, Arab merchants. The only losers? The natives.

Mark Vellian assigned his staff to number and distribute the Armenian women across the colony.

This large-scale "cleansing" campaign had another goal: motivating Chinese soldiers.

After all, fighting natives came with risks—arrows could still hit someone unlucky.

And the colony didn't offer cash rewards. So how to boost morale?

With what they needed most: wives.

Life in the colony now guaranteed food and shelter. And as the saying goes, once basic needs are met, desire follows.

Alcohol wasn't needed—Chinese immigrants had once starved, so who cared for drinking?

Now that survival was secure, single Chinese men longed to start families.

In this era, things like fear of marriage, free love, or polygamy were luxuries for the rich.

Ordinary people were simple. The best reward? A wife.

Previously, the colony had imported a few native Southeast Asian women each month. The best laborers and contributors would get marriage packages.

But even then, only about 100 men a month got lucky.

Still, that hope kept many single men highly motivated—especially those early settlers whose kids were already running around.

Now, before launching the "cleansing" campaign, the colony promised that towns and villages with the best performance would receive the most women.

And within each location, those with the best results would be first in line.

This massively boosted enthusiasm among single Chinese men.

They eagerly joined the colonial army. As for Armenian, Christian, or Southeast Asian women?

To these poor Chinese men of the time, it didn't matter—as long as they could have children.

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