Page 254 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

6 ADMINISTRATION RETORT OK THE TKRSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
Establishment.
27. Political.—Lieutenant-Colonel Ross having proceeded on 18
month*’ furlough, Lieutenant-Colonel \Y. F. Pridcaux took over charge
of the duties of the Residency on lltli April 1876.
28. Medical.—Surgeon Wall has been relieved of the surgeoncy
at Bushire by Surgeon J. C. Lucas, who assumed charge on the 29th
March 1877.
29. Naval.—Her Majesty’s Ships Vestal, Rifleman, Arab, Teaser,
and Daphne have been employed at Muscat and in the Persian Gulf
during the year under review. All these vessels, with the exception of
the Vestal, have made a short stay at Busrah.
30. The Residency steamer was withdrawn in October 1876. A
steam-cutter has since been placed at the disposal of the Resident, for
quarantine duties iu connection with the plague in Mesopotamia.
Slave-trade.
31. Slave importations have been reported at Kishm and Bunder
Abbaxs, but the local authorities have declared their inability to discuss
the matter. The British Agents have been vigilant in obtaining inform­
ation, and Her Majesty’s Ship 'leaser has visited both ports for the
purpose of making enquiry.
32. Two British Steamships, the Rokeby and Korsia, were inspected
by Her Majesty’s Ship Rifleman on their return from Jeddah, and some
slaves were found on board who had been shipped as passengers. The
slaves from the Korsia were taken out at Muscat, and having been con­
demned as fre-h importations by the Consular Court at that place, were
forwarded to Kurrachce.
33. The slaves from the Rukeby were taken out at Bushire, and
remain iu the Residency pending the result of a reference which has
been made by the Turkish authorities at Busrah.
3 V. Some slaves were landed at Bushire prior to the Rokeby being
searched, and the Persian authorities were called on to produce them, but
with the exception of a boy, who had been given in charge of a person
known to the Residency ferashes, the slaves were not delivered up, nor
were any energetic steps taken to trace them, although the house, in
which they had been secreted was pointed out and other information
given which left no doubt of their being in the place.
35. Representations have been made to Her Majesty’s Minister at
Teheran, and a special Commissioner has been appointed to make enquiry
into the importation of these unfortunates both into Busbire aud
Bunder Abbass.
(Sd.) \V. F. Prideaux, Lieul.-Col.,
II. B. Mis Oflfg. Political Resident,
Persian Gulf.