‘Slavery in Zanzibar’, about 1890

This is a photograph taken by a missionary and made into a glass lantern slide. It was given the title ‘Slavery in Zanzibar’, and was taken in around 1907, long after slavery was officially abolished. The boy was being punished by his Arab master for a slight offence. The log weighed 32 pounds (about 14.5 kilos), and was chained to the boy’s ankle. He could only move by carrying the log on his head.

© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK

Accession reference: National Maritime Museum, ZBA2618