Page 214 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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Af • 4°* T)v°fls,avers were captured by Her Majesty’s Philomel, containing ao<
issbjHbtessas- Tt'!i™ dt"“

»ci.i,«Bs3;dji,,“ ;:xh“l'd ljr ih* -> “* <«»

42. Four fugitive slaves took asylum at the telegraph village at Task and
Karach?mly Kot on board Hi. Majesty Ship Dragon and were landed at

43. There was then a discussion of the measures that should be taken for
i External A., May 1665. Nos. 131*141. suppression of the slave trade. The
External A., March 1686, Nos. 357*361,
following correspondence on the subject
might be read

No. 19, dated Bushire, 33rd January 1885.
From—Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Ross, C.S.I., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and Her
Majesty s Consul-General for Pars,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I have the honour to acknowledge your office letter No. 3053-E., dated nth ultimo,
on the subject of prevention of slave traffic during the next season.
2. Before replying I requested Colonel Miles to furnish me with a report on the
subject, and 1 now submit a copy of his letter No. 28, dated 18th January 1885.
3. All experience has shewn that the slave-running traffic between Africa and North­
ern Arabia can only be effectually checked by action on the African coast. However
vigilant Her Majesty's cruizers stationed on the Arabian coast, or in the Persian Gulf,
may be, they can only be expected to capture a few out of the total number ot slavers
running when lhat number is large. In my opinion, therefore, the attention of Govern­
ment should chiefly be directed to the measures which can be adopted on the African
coast. I gather from paragraph 7 of Colonel Miles' report that he considrrs that the system
of stationing a special vessel as Zanzibar, provided with steam-launches, proved a success,
and certainly whilst that system was in lorce the number of slavers reaching Oman greatly
diminished. It is to be remembered that besides being more effectual it is also more
humane to stop the slavers on the African coast.
4. As regards measures to be adopted within the jurisdiction of this Residency, I
would recommend that duriug the seasons indicated by Colonel Miles, one vessel-of-war
should watch the neighbourhood of Ras-el-Had, keeping, when possible, to the southward
of that Cape, and a second vessel patrol the Arabian coast from Ras-el-Had to Cape
Musendum. If a third vessel wsre available, one would be best stationed near the entrance
of the Persian Gulf, patrolling occasionally along the Batiueh coast.
5. I would in conclusion respectfully draw the attention of Government to the want
of some arrangement for disposing of released slaves—a want which is much felt.

No. 28, dated Muscat, 18th January 1885.
From—Lisutehant-Colonil S. B. Milks, Her Britannic Majesty’s Political Agent and Consul,
M uscat.
To—The Political Resident, Persian Gulf, and Her Majesty’s Consul-General for Fars.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram dated 31st December
1884, and of your memorandum No. 2, dated 3rd January 1885, forwarding, for any sugges­
tions 1 may have to offer, copy of a letter No. 3053-E., dated nth December 1884, from
the Assistant Secretary to the Government of India to your address, requesting the sub­
mission of early proposals regarding the measures to be adopted for the prevention of the
sea transport of slaves next season, should such be considered necessary by you.
2. I presume tnat the suggestions called lor are required in reference to the disposition
of Her Majesty's cruizers in the Persian Gulf, and 1 beg respectfully to submit the following
remarks as to what appear to me the most advantageous points at which ships can station
themselves to intercept slavers on their way up from Zanzibar.
4. The vessels in which the trade in Negro slaves is carried on belong exclusively to
Arabs, and, as is well known, they are able to make but one voyage to Africa out and
home during the year. Sailing from Arabia as legitimate traders during the prevalence ot
the north-east trade winds which blow from November to February, they remain at Zanzi­
bar until the change of the mor.soon when, having purchased a cargo of slaves at one ot tne
mainland ports, they begin to turn their bows northward.