Page 308 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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aware, did not aufllco to put down a practice which enjoyed the sanction
of Mahomedan law. They had, they said, conceded to British cruizcrs full
powers to capture the vessels of their subjects and dependents wherever they
might be detected ongaging in the slavo trade, aud unless the Government took
measures to enforce the penalties stipulated in the Treaty, or devised some other
mode of punishing its infraction, it was not to bo expected that they would
relinquish a tratlic in which for generations past they had engaged with
impunity. Sheikh Sultan even went further and assured mo that in conse­
quence of my remonstrances last year lie lmd himself written to the Imaum and
to Major Hamerton on the opening of the seasons acquainting them with the
departure of his vessels for Zanzibar and authorising them cither to tako
security from their Nakhodas against purchasing or kidnapping slaves or to
adopt any other measures they might think advisable to prevent their embark­
ation and in proof of his assertions he proposed to send me, through Hadgi
Yacoob, the reply which had been given to his letter by the above-mentioned
officerThe sincerity of these professions would have appeared to mo less
questionable had I not learnt from reliable sources that the Joasmee Chief
levied four dollars a head upon each nowly imported slavo in consideration
of his alleged connivanco with the importers.”