Page 218 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

i
42
,
I do not quite understand the remark of Captain Dowding that only four dhow
came from Africa during the time of his cruize. Five or six times that number of dh *
are known to have reached Oman from Zanzibar in September and October of this
Si owa
and it follows that either some must have escaped the vigilance of the Osprey and San per
or that 1 here has been some misunderstanding in collecting the information owing to the
incompetence of the interpreters.
44 Four of Her Majesty's ships, viz., Reindeer Woodlark, Kingfisher and
%
External A., January 1887, Nos. 8-27.^ Sphinx were then under orders of the
Gulf Administration Report for 1886-87. Government of India engaged from 25th
April 1S86 until 8th June in operations against slavers from the African coast.
415 About 200 dhows were met with and boarded, but only one vessel
was found carrying slaves. This dhow, which had twenty-one slaves on board
was captured by Her Majesty’s ship Woodlark on 16th June. Most of the
dhows examined were found to be in ballast, and accounted for this by saying
that they had landed their cargoes further south at Socotra, Makallah, etc. This
was probably the truth, and it was more than probable that in many instances
the cargoes consisted chiefly of slaves.
46. There can be r.o doubt that large number of slaves were shipped from
the coast of Africa during the year, and, by means not fully ascertained, a con*
siderable number reached the Batineh coast and other parts of Oman.
47. Her Majesty’s ships Woodlark and Kingfisher cruised from July to
28th October, when operations ceased.
48. An extensive "Khor” or creek was discovered by Her Majesty’s ship
Kingfisher near the village of Sawaih-Beni-bu-Ali.

(iii) Anti-Slave Trade Operations, 1888—1891. Decree issued by the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Proposal for a similar decree being promulgated by the Sultan of Maskat—nega­
tived other proposals.
49 From enquiries made by the Resident in 1888, it appeared that a con­
siderable number of fresh African slaves yearly reached the northern coast of
Arabia, both by sea and overland routes.
Gulf Administration Report for 1889-90.
During the past year, 1888, a few Africans
were liberated from slavery through the exertion of our native agents. Three were
brought by sea to Umm-eUKawain, and being demanded, were handed over to
the Residency Agent by the Chief and liberated.
50. At Shargah, a nakhoda attempted to carry two female Africans in
slavery to the Persian coast, but the Agent interfered, and eventually both women
were sent to Maskat and liberated.
51. In September 1888 information was received that seven fresh African
slaves had been imported to Lingah from Sur. Every effort was made to get hold
of these persons and have the importer punished, but the action and attitude of
the Persian officials completely frustrated all attempts. Curiously enough, the
dallal, who imported the slaves, died immediately after the inquiry was instituted,
from the sting of a hornet.
53. The Saad-ul-Malk subsequently issued a notification to the effect that
persons engaging in slave traffic would be
External A, March 1890, Nos. 298-299.
punished, and the farmer of the customs
was enjoined to bring all cases of importation to the notice of the authorities.
53. In October 1889 the Residency Agent at Bahrein reported that persons,
returned from the Mecca pilgrimage, had brought a larger number of slaves than
usual, some by sea and some by land. This was brought to the notice of the Chief
of Bahrein, who acted loyally and traced 15 slaves, 8 males and 7 females, who
had been freshly imported. The Residency Steamer Lawrence was despatched
to Bahrein for these Africans, who were manumitted at Bushire.
54. The traffic in raw slaves continued in 1890-01 with unabated vigour, and
numerous importations into the Persian and
Gulf Administration Report for 1890-91.
Arabian ports were reported to have taken