'Précis on slave trade in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, 1873-1905 (With a Retrospect into previous history from 1852) By J A Saldanha BA, LL B' [‎42] (50/126)

42
I do not quite understand the remark of Captain D .wdmg onl >',' 0 "
came from Africa during the time of his cruixe. F.ve or s. X tIm /^ h " Um o ler , h 0 ^
are known to have reached Oman from ZanzrOar m September and
and it follows that either some must have escaped the vigilance of the Osprey an ^ ,
or that i here has been some misunderstanding in collecting the information owing
incompetence of the interpreters.
44 Four of Her Majesty's ships, viz., Reindeer, Woodlark. Kingfisher and
„o vt o Sfihinx were then under orders or the
External A., lanusry i887> Nos. r r .. j £ rtr"fK
Gulf Administration Report for 1886-87. Government of India engaged from 25th
April 1886 until 8th June in operations against slavers from the African coast.
4^ About 200 dhows were met with and boarded, but only one vessel
was found carrying slaves. This dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , which had twenty-one slaves onboard,
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 no 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.
G.lf Administration Report for .889-90. ^ past jggg^ a few A{ricans
were liberated from slavery through the exertion of our native agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. . Three were
brought by sea to Umm-eh Kawain, and being demanded, were handed over to
the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. 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
External A, March 1890, Nos. 298-299. persons engaging in slave traffic would be
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 An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. 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 An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Steamer Laivrence was despatched
to Bahrein for these Africans, who were manumitted at Bushire.
54. The traffic in raw slaves continued in 1890.91 with unabated vigour, and
Gulf Administration Report for 1890-91, numerous importations into the Persian and
Arabian ports were reported to have taken