Page 277 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

IOI
Slave Trade Report from July i, 1858, to June 30,1859.
In continuation of former reports exhibiting the results of our efforts to
suppress slave trade, we proceed to place on record, as briefly and concisely
as may be, the fruits of our labours during the year extending from July 1, 1858,
to June 30, 1859. We explained so fully in our last the nature of our conven­
tions with the powers bordering on the Gulf, and the earnest endeavours of the
several Political Residents,* aided by the
• Colonel Hcnnell.
Captain mow Major) Kemball. Naval Authorities, to eradicate the inhu­
Captain Felix Junes.
man traffic, that we shall in our present
narrative simply relate the seizures and liberations that were effected, mentioning,
however, in instances deserving of special notice through whose instrumentality
and laudable exertions the slaves were rescued from the bonds of slavery. To
the above we shall add a compendious description of a few cases which, from
peculiarities involved in them, demand to be particularized.
2. On the Persian side of the Gulf, notwithstanding that Lingah is well
known to be a thriving mart for slaves, strange to say, our success was a mere
blank. This may be attributed in a measure to two causes—the first, our inability
to insist on, and the reluctance of the Persians to agree to the surrender of slaves
that have once reached terra firma in Persian territory ; the second, the apathy
and want of influence (to use no stronger terms) of Moolla Ahmed, our present
Agent on the Persian Coast.
3. The above account, we venture to consider, in some degree for our
failure in recovering slaves that have once reached the Persian shores, but we
confess ourselves puzzled when we attempt to explain the mode in which these
unfortunates escape our notice whilst crossing the Gulf waters. We can only
suppose the vessels they are freighted in watch their opportunities off Ras
Mussendim, and that at moments when they possess positive information that
no British cruizers stand in their way they cross, that too perhaps at night,
direct over to Ormuz, and thence to the Persian port of their destination. This
is the only explanation we can offer, nor, considering the short distance between
Ras Mussendim and the Persian Coast directly opposite, do we imagine it
improbable that such be really the course adopted.
4. On the Arabian side, we boast of a better harvest, no less than 23 slaves
having through the conjoint exertions of Lieutenant Robinson, Commanding
H. M.'s Brigantine Tigris, and HajeeYacoob, the British Agent at Shargah,
been recovered from the Arab Chief of Oman, this too after they had been
introduced over land into their territories. These liberations were insisted
on, and effected, we may observe, on the strength of the new convention
entered into by Captain Felix Jones with the Maritime Arab Chiefs in May
1856 last. Evasion was of course attempted, but thanks to the fearlessness
of our indefatigable servant Hajee Yacoob, the benefits of evasion could
prove but temporary, for, the fact of importations once brought home to a
Chief’s door, we were in a position to compel surrender. We will take the case of
the Amulgavine Chief for an example.
5. Hajee Yacoob having learned that slaves had been landed in the above
named Chief’s territories proceeded to Amulgavine to demand them. Owing,
however, to the excuses and pretexts that were put forth, he found himself incap­
able of obtaining their relcasement. At that juncture it so happened that
Lieutenant Robinson visited Shargah with the Brigantine Tigris under his
command, and having gathered from Hajee Yacoob that the Amulgavine Chief
was making endeavours to evade fulfilment of his obligations, he at once took the
Agent on board and repaired to Amulgavine to bring the’ Chief to a strict
account. Fresh objections were raised, but eventually four slaves were surrender­
ed, three others, demand for whose releasement had in like manner been prose­
cuted, having in the interim died of cholera.
6. At Shargah, too, a number of slaves traced as having been imported were
demanded by Hajee Yacoob, and his demand backed by Lieutenant Robinson, but i
Vide paragraph a of Political Resident’, letter No. the wily Joasmee having recourse to a host
37601 October 1858. to Mr. Secretary a ode non- of prevarications, and having further “ con­
nived, it was supposed, at their escape from the town,’* for a time our efforts to
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