that his predecessor had “stated as his opinion that pratique could be granted without danger, and that if he were permitted he would do so, but he was thereupon suspended,” and “that Drs. MacKenzie and Dumat, having been privately interviewed by Mr. Escombe on the question, were, at his suggestion, called in by him to give their opinion as to the refusing of pratique.” (App,. P.)
While the correspondence was thus going on between the Government and the owners’ solicitors with reference to the quarantine, and while the passengers on board the two vessels were being subjected to grave inconvenience and hardship, an agitation was being got up in Durban with a view to prevent the landing of the quarantined passengers. The following notice appeared in The Natal Advertiser, for the first time on the 30th December, above the signature of “Harry Sparks, chairman of preliminary meeting”, one of Her Majesty’s commissioned officers:
- Wanted every man in Durban to attend a meeting to be held in the large room at the Victoria Cafe, on Monday the 4th January at 8 o’clock for the purpose of arranging a demonstration to proceed to the Point and protest against the landing of Asiatics.
This meeting was ultimately held in the town hall of Durban. Inflammatory speeches were made, and some commissioned officers, besides Captain Sparks, also took part in the animated proceedings. The meeting is said to have been attended by about 2,000 persons, mostly of the artisan class. The following resolutions were passed at the meeting:
- That this meeting is strongly of opinion that the time has come to prevent the landing of any more free Indians or Asiatics in this Colony, and now calls upon the Government to take steps to have returned to India, at the Colony’s expense, the Asiatics at present on board the Naderi and Courland, and to prevent any other free Indians or Asiatics being landed in Durban.
- Every man at this meeting agrees and binds himself, with a view to assisting the Government to carry out the foregoing resolution, to do all his country may require of him, and with that view, will, if necessary, attend at the Point any time when required.
The following are extracts from the speech of Dr. MacKenzie, the mover of the second resolution, and one of those who, as stated above, were called by Mr. Escombe to determine the period of quarantine:
