"ملف ١٩١/٥ II‏" حالات الاسترقاق الفردية" [و‎‎١‎١‎٦] (٨٠٤/٢٤٤)

and
U/H-"'
and he will perhaps be^able to rescue them v/ithout incurring
considerable risk of assassination in his town*
4* I visited Jask on the 7th instant and consulted the
Assistant Superintendent , Jask, on the subject; the latter
had, at my request, been in telegraphic communication the
evening before with Mr*Navarra the Assistant Superintendent
Jaak-Charbar Sub-Division who was inspecting the line some
30 miles away, and obtained his views. Both Assistant Super
intendents confirmed what I have said above about economic
conditions affecting the trade directly* They both agreed
that except in good years the position of Baluchis, especially
women, was much more comfortable as slaves on the Arab side
than as free men and women in their own country. instances
had come before each of them in which women, who had been freed
by our efforts, had found conditions on their return to their
own country unsatisfactory and had gone back of their own
accord to their Arab masters. This is an interesting comment
on the prevailing ideas regarding slavery. I can certainly
say from my own knowledge that in the vast majority of cases -
probably quite 9 out of 10-slaves round the coast of the
Persian Gulf are well treated and live comfortably, being for
all practical purposes much better off than they would be as
free men.
•C Another Interesting comment on slave trade is the follow
ing which has come to my knowledge recently: on more than
one occasion Mekran Baluchis have sold or otherwise disposed
of their children to dealers and have subsequently applied to
us for, and have obtained, their recovery and manumission.
This process if repeated at intervals appears to offer a fscxt
fairly lucrative source of income for a poor but large family
In bad years. Another method by which the Mekranis secure
free food has come forward in connection with the Baluchis
mentioned in paragraph 3 above as being in slavery at Umm-ul-
Qaiwain. There are about 5 or 6 in number, and to apply for
their release no less than 6 relatives tumed/at shargah
where they have quartered themselves on the Residency Agent