Page 694 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

650 SLAVE TRADE.

the traffic in slaves is being carried on, although to
a
extent, on our shores: Negroes and Abyssinians are . very limited
India, and Indian boys and females exported in return for t^lau^
adequate estimate may be formed from the accompanying si t'' A"
showing those only which have within the last three or four year^h0”*’
discovered and restored to home and liberty at one port alone (Mu
through the exertions of our late very intelligent Agent theSJ
Khojah Reuben.* & ’ cw
In the month of February 1841, the Government of Bombay directed
that a strict investigation should be made, with a view to ascertain the
correctness of a report which had reached the Home Government, that
vessels belonging to His Highness the Imaum of Muskat were in the
habit of bringing Negro slaves from Africa for sale at Bombay, and of
taking back Hindoo females for the same purpose at Zanzibar.
The following is the result of the first inquiries, in the words of the
Resident, Captain Hennell:—
“ It is with much regret that I have ascertained, from the statement
made by Khojah Reuben, that there is but too much reason to believe
that the reports made to Her Majesty’s Government are not without
foundation. I must, however, still report my firm conviction that His
Highness the Imaum is not in the slightest degree aware that such a
nefarious traffic is carried on by his vessels.

* May-June 1839.—An Indian girl recovered from slavery. She had been purchased, then
five years old, at Mangalore, five years previous, by Abdoolla bin Khaleefa, an inhabitant of
Ras-ool-KhymaJ from Saeed, the servant of Syud Jaffcr, a Dullal or broker of that place.
On his arrival at Muskat, dreading the consequences of this proceeding, he voluntarily gave
her up to the Native Agent there. The owner of the Butcel in which she had been brought
at the same time entered a protest of his entire ignorance of the circumstances under which the
child had been embarked in his vessel. She was returned to the place of her nativity in 1841.
An Indian girl liberated by the Native Agent after she had been publicly sold iu the slave
market at Muskat.
January-February 1842.—Through the laudable exertions of Khojah Reuben, the Native
Agent at Muskat, two Indian girls were liberated from slavery, and subsequently restored
to their homes. The one had been decoyed and kidnapped, and quietly embarked from
Calcutta ; the other, from Mangalore, had been sold or given away by her stepmother.
February 1843.—Another Indian girl released from slavery at Muskat. Belonging, ns
she did, to the Imaum’s sister, the Native Agent was compelled to pay her value, but i so
under a protest. The money was subsequently recovered.
May 1843.—An Indian girl was recovered by the Shaikh of Bunder Abbas [om
y the charge of the Native
Persian pilgrims on their way into the interior. She was sent to
Agent at Muskat, who forwarded her to the Presidency. it until the
June 1843.—Four Indians were discovered to be in slavery at Muskat; nor was repeated
lapse of an entire year that their liberation could be effected, notwit stunting
remonstrances addressed to Syud Soweynee, the Governor. The peremptory or had
his father, His Highness the Imaum, at the representation of the Bntisii
at length the desired effect. ,
July 1843.—A Malabaree woman released from slavery, and sent to uom j-