مجموعة ٣٤/١٢ "الرِق وتجارة الرقيق: تدابير حظر الرِق في الساحل المتصالح" [و‎‎٦‎٤] (٤٧٣/١٢٧)

Rs. 50
■been introduced into Riyadh as slaves during the last two or
three years. That they are newly-enslaved persons must he
evident, since many talk only Baluchi when they arrive. One
woman related how she and her child (or children) were stolen
from near their village at some distance from the coast and
brought across the sea to the Arab coast. Persian Baluch
istan is believed to be the main source of supply, but some
at least of the slaves are shipped from Gwadur, and they, if
captured in Persian Baluchistan, must have been brought
across part of British Baluchistan.
4. On my return to Jedda I found some particulars
which had just been recorded by Saiyid Lai Shah, the Indian
Vice-Consul, who was then visiting Mecca and Taif. Saiyid
Lai Shah I regard as a very reliable witness. Here are some
of the details he gives. A Baluchi girl now a slave in
Medina is stated to be a daughter of Ali Khan son of Barkat
Khan. Barkat Khan was said by Saiyid Lai Shah’s informant
to be one of the prominent opponents of Riza Shah at the
beginning of the latter’s reign; but on the other hand, in a
report from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to
be quoted later in this despatch, Barkat Khan is given
as the name of one of the leading slave traders. There is a
young girl speaking only Baluchi in a house opposite that of
the Indian Vice-Consul at Jedda. Jask is mentioned as one of
the ports of shipment of slaves. It is alleged that the
Saudi Arabian Government levy a duty of fifty riyals a head
on imported slaves. At Taif at one time during the past
summer there were thirty-two slaves for sale. Of one batch
of twenty-four slaves, mostly women and children, sent to
Riyadh, eight died of hardship on the way. There is a rumour
that Riza Shah has protested to Ibn Saud against this slave
traffic.
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