Page 268 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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on slavery. In the case of Persia we were only authorised to remove the
slaves, infliction of punishment resting with the Persian authorites, and, finally
when dealing with vessels of the Ottoman Porte, the slaves only could we liberate
the slavers we must &e put to the trouble of “ conducting to their destination.” '
The equipment necessary for ships to be employed on slave service was
pointed out by Captain Kemball, and reference was made to suggestions pre­
viously submtted by Colonel Hennell regarding their location “ between certain
limits.11
15. The continued importation of slaves into Persian ports, notwithstand­
ing the convention so lately concluded, was brought to the notice of Her Majesty's
vide despatch from Colonel (now Sir Justin) Shell j^!n!ster at Tehran, and^ resulted in the
to Capuin Kembaii, datej December 10, 185J, Ministers ot the Persian Government
submitted to Government by latter officer in his consenting to avail themselves of the aid of
communication No. 5 of January u, 1853. . r- ° , , *■* . UIU 01
the honourable Company’s vessels of war in
bringingtoan account Chiefs of the ports into which slaves had been imported.
16. Such were the measures adopted by the Resident in 185a. The
Bombay Government, on receiving intelligence of the appalling extent to which
slavery was carried on in the Gulf, addressed the Commodore Commander-in-
Chief of the Indian Navy, and, feeling most anxious to check the inhuman
traffic, solicited his opinion as to the arrangements fitting to be made for the
interception of slavers during the ensuing season. Sir Henry Leeke in reply
vide letier from Captain Sir h. j. Lccke, r.n., stated that “he considered the squadron
etc. t° the Right Honourable Lord viscount in the Persian Gulf should at the proper
Falkland, dated October 7. 1852. forwarded to , rr • y • r , m r e
Resident. Persian Gulf, by Mr. Secretary Malet in time DC sufficiently remtorCed tO allow of a
hit communication No. 5323 of December 1852. strict watch being kept off the coast below
Maskat upon all native vessels entering the Gulf ’’—
,f To enable this to be done, the Constance, at present in Bombay, should be repaired
and sent to the Gulf whenever she may be ready, and should a steam frigate, or the
Medusa, be available for the service, when the proper season arrives, say in August nest,
she might also be sent up.
u Beyond the above it did not occur to him that anything could be done to suppress
the slave trade which he was informed was carried on in small country vessels of such
light draft of water as to admit of their passing up in shore out of sight of the men-of-war,
however close they might hug the land.
“ la addition to this the officers commanding vessels in the Persian Gulf were much
Vide Persian Gulf Selection No. XXIV, 1856. puzzled to know the slaves from the crew of the
page 652— vessels, and the constant fear of having a heavy
-It i> needles* to remark the facility with which demurrage to PaY (or false detention very natural-
ly deterred the,/from making a seizure."
making the distinction unless the individuals would
themselves come forward and assert their natural
rights."
17. These suggestions were approved of by Government, but, from the
pre-occupation of the ships of war of the Indian Navy, it appears to have been
found impracticable to spare in time the reinforcement required for slave service,
and the vigilance necessary to stay slave dealings could not be exercised during
the season 1853. This led Captain Kemball to report fresh importations of
human cargoes into the ports of Oman, and to submit the necessity for more
vessels. Captain Kemball wrote thus—
“ Could an effective system of watch and cruize be maintained on the Zanzibar and
Vide Captain Kemball's letter to Mr. Secretary Batinah coasts, I would confidently predict: «
Malet, No. 58 of July 20,1853. entire cessation of the slave trade >n tne rer .
Gulf in the course of two or three years. As yet the force annually employed on this service
has been limited to one small vessel, spared with difficulty, and for a limited period on y»
from the Gulf."
18. In August 1853 the Honourable Company’s steam vessel Queen was •
puted by Government to search for slaves, but had scarcely commence
labours when she was recalled, being required for other purposes. No contin
active measures could therefore be taken to repress slave trade, and e
continued.