'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' [‎44] (52/126)

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letter to you, under the orders of the Sublime Porte, for the prevention within his extensive
maritime jurisdiction of this cruel traffic.
„ „ 61. Along with the above we might read
Secret E., October ifloa, No«. i -4. .1 #• n - . r ak • t •
the following report of Major Jennings :—
No. 436, dated 2isl July 1892.
From—M ajor R», H. Jennings , R, E., Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Basra,
To—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. .
In reply to your letter No. 352, dated 20th ultimo, forwarding me,, for information
and enquiry, a report by Captain Dyke, R.N,, of H.M.S Sphinx v regarding there
being a slave market at Basra, I have the honour to inform you that I have made careful
enquiries on the subject, with the result that I find slaves are most certainly brought to
Kowait, Muhammarah, creeks on the Shattu'l Arab, and Basra for sale—probably from 100
to 150 in a year, including all the above places^
2. But it cannot be said that slave market exists here* The thing is managed with
great secrecy and care, and the slaves are sold r as a rule, singly and the known would
be purchasers | and in some cases they arc bought elsewhere on commission and then
brought here.
3. Slaves are brought overland from Mecca and neighbourhood to Kowait and Zubair,
and from theie places overland to Basra.
4. They are also brought in baghlas flying the French flag, from I cannot ascertain
where, to these parts, as stated by Captain Dyke,
J* u ha r e de ] ayed r our letter until I could satisfy myself how the matter
stood ; but the mformation I here give, you may accept, I consider, as quite reliable, although
tor obvious reasons I do not quote my authorities.
6. I am sending this confidentially.
62. The Sultan of Zanzibar issued the following decree in connection with
Secret E., January 1891, Not. 34-60, S ^ ave traffic dn I St August I89O ; —
No. 3.
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate!
The is P^ ,ished b y us - Seyyid Ali-bin-Said. Saltan of Zanzibar,
dominions fro m Tht e dat:r t0 ^ t0 ^ by a11 0ar Subiects within 0 "
Decree.
n c«f3 e C ?!? rm 1 a11 former decrees and ordinances made by our predecessors
Wn slavery and the slave trade, and declare that, whether such Decrees have hitherto
subje^s. In rCe ^ ^ they Sha11 f0r the future be on ourselves and on o^
ed on thk suh '\ ect to l the auditions stated below, all slaves lawfully possess-
Shan "be uichanged/ ^ 9Ubje<:,S Sha11 remaia With their 0Wners present AhTsUtns
dorne^i^L'^terle'^ThteThlu^t'L 3 " ^T' f 6 ' " P urcha - of ^-es,
cription. 6 Shal1 be no more traffic whatever in slaves of any des-
for S,ave brok - "e
shall be liable, under our orders f,, 0 s • . r0 er exchange or sale of slaves
dominions. 0 derS, t0 severe P«>»shment and to be deported from our
or selling dorae 0 3tic t trotLTslavej e ?h%l 1 b r e C fiabL fOUn a d exc,,an S in S> Purchasing, obtaining
fo deportation, and the forfeiture of all his slaves ' 0rderS ' " SeVere
of slave, may take place,
of the decea'eT'" I'th^own^tL'res^ 111 0 |! CnIy by the ,awfu, children
free on the death of their owner, S children, his slaves shall ipso facto become
be fo^d"^^^ "'r 3 ' his
punishment, and, in flagrant cases of cruelty.iothfforLteof aUhL'sTa^" 5 * t0