Page 252 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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slaves on board which had cost him two hundred and forty dollars and v.
receive eight hundred dollars from the slave-dealers as freight for the rest of tl was to
The letters mention further that another slave dhow was shortly to follow this one'6 cargo.
g. The information obtained from the correspondence confirms the reports that hid
before reached me to the effect that a large importation of slaves has taken place thisYear
from the Zanzibar coast to Arabia. For the past ten years this slave transport by sea his
been without doubt practically m abeyance, owing chiefly, as I believe, to the vigilance and
energy of the naval force engaged in patrolling the East African Coast. But this check
has lately been in a great measure removed, and a widespread belief has arisen amon^the
Arabs that the former restrictions placed by the British Government on the sl ive frade
have been withdrawn. The preventive measures adopted in his territories by the Sultan
of Zanzibar are, in my humble opinion, neither sincere nor effective, and as the slave trade
may now be expected to continue, I would respectfully suggest that the southern coast of
Arabia and the entrance to the Persian Gulf be carefully watched by His Majesty's cruisers
during the next south-west mousoon, vis., from April to October. J

No. 321, dated Muscat, 23rd November 1884.

From—Luut.-Col. S. B. Miles, H. B. M.’s Political Agent and Consul, Muscat,
To—Luut-Col. E. C. Ross, C.S.I .Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and Her Majesty’s
Consul-General for Pars, See,
I am in receipt of information from Commander Lang, H. M. S. Philomel, that on the
18th October last on his way from Muscat to Aden he captured an Arab dhow a little
to the northward of Maseera island, containing 51 slaves, 30 males and 21 females,
bound to the Botnah from Panjani on the African Coast opposite Zanzibar.
2. Being unable to tow the dhow, Captain Lang burnt her and conveyed the slaves,
slave-dealers and crew to Aden where he handed them over to the Resident.
3. It is to the slave-dealers of this second dhow captured by H. M. S. Philomel that
reference is made in the Resident at Aden's telegram dated 30th October 1884.

No. C.020, dated Aden, mh November 1884.
From—Briodr.-Ginsral J. Blair, V.C., Political Resident, Aden,
To—The Political Resident, Persian Gulf.
With reference to my telegram of the 30th ultimo, I have the honor to forward copy of
the judgment of the Vice-Admiralty Court in the case of the dhow Fateh-al-Khair
captured by H. M. S. Philomel with 51 slaves on board.
2. The nakhoda and crew, being natives of Muscat, are still here in custody awaiting
a final reply to my communication above quoted.
Judgment of the Vice-Admiralty Court.
It appears from the evidence that H. M. S. Philomel left Muscat on the 16th
October 1884 for Aden. On the 18th October 1884, about 10 a.m., she sighted a dhow,
about seven miles off ; steered for her and when she got within half a mile the dhow
lowered her sail. She had no colours flying at the time. Lieutenant Henderson and
Muhammad Ali, Interpreter, the second and third witnesses, were sent in a boat to visit
the dhow ; they boarded her and found slaves on board, who, on seeing the boarding officer,
came near the water casks saying that they were very thirsty as they got rice one day and
water the other. The dhow was detained in latitude 2i° 9 N., and longitude 590 14' E.
The slaves were found to be 30 males and 21 females. They were removed to H. M. S.
Philomel and the dhow was taken in tow. Dollars 268 and Rs. 8-8 in silver and
Rs. 2-0-9 *a copper and a silver ring were found on board.
On the 23rd October, there being a strong breeze and the dhow making a considerable
quantity of water, H. M. S. Philomel put into Ras Derkha, where the dhow was found
uoseaworthy on survey. She was destroyed and the crew and passengers were taken on
board H. M. S. Philomel, which proceeded on her voyage and arrived in Aden on the
26th October 1884.
The dhow was found to be a Sumbook named Fateh-al-Khair, owned and commanded
by Rubheir-bin-Nuseeb. She had a* crew of se/en men, and also had on .arfj
passengers named Abdulla Musellum, Ahmed Musullum, Ishmail Murad, Obeid Salim,
Abdulla Salim ,who are the owners of the slaves.
Rubheir-bin-Nuseeb, the nakhoda and owner of the dhow, s^ates^that be^ ^
Sur and is a subject of the Sultan of Muscat; that he went