'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' [‎58] (66/126)

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letter to the Sultan invited him to meet the Rinds at Gwadur, and settle the
question of the si ves and murders, and in default ol such settlement threatened
attack Gwadur, and observed that the British Government, which had for
bidden the restoration of slaves, had retired from the country. Copies of
these letters were sent to the 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. for Southern Baluchistan, having
previously telegraphed the substance of their contents. At the same time the
Sultan was informed that there had been no recent sign of aggressiveness on
the part of the Rinds, and that the case had been referred to the Baluchistan
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
100. Dr. Jayakar, on the authority of the Wali of Gwadur, gave 179 (70
males, 74 females, and 35 children) as the total number of slaves in Gwadur
belonging to the Rinds. These slaves were said to be " earning their livelihood
in Gwadur either as labourers or porters," to be under protection, and to be
unwilling to leave Gwadur for Karachi. The Sultan of Maskat having expressed
anxiety for the settlement of this case, Dr. Jayakar was asked what His Highness
0 Letter No, 25a, dated the 20th August 1893. meant by a settlement. In reply to this
Dr. Jayakar wrote* as follows :—
settlement which His Highness the Sultan desires is that the Rinds mav be
effectually prevented from assuming a threatening attitude towards Gwadur ard from
annoying any of his subjects there, as it is feared that the Rinds are sure sooner or 1?^
to resent the action of the Wali in giving refuge and protection to their slaves.
o- V 1 a -n of , 0 P in10 " that th f presence of such a large number of slaves beloneinff to the
Rinds will always be an element of danger at Gwadur, and that the best cou.se under
the circumstances would be their removal to British territory, as suggested by you in
native boats, which His Highness the Sultan also considers as quite feasible."
The Native Assistant gave 198 (men, women and children) as the number
of slaves m Gwadur belonging, more or less jointly, to the Rinds of Mand and
the people of Dasht, besides 5° ^gm^s from Kolaneh, and from Bahoo and
Murtan m Persian termory. He stated that the slaves were under protectfon
but that the Rinds were still writing to the Wali to claim them, and that the
slaves professed readiness to go to Karachi, or Maskat. or elsewhere if thev
could be protected at Gwadur. ^wucrc, 11 they
101. Ultimately Captain H. Ramsay. 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. in South-East Balu-
Secret e., August 1894, Nos. 277-304. chistan, was deputed with a view to settle
tiadons he succeeded in obtaining a^bon^lia^r^t^ January'Tfo^ "from
agreed— 3 0 ' Mand ' in which ' amon g ^ things', they
" (1) to refrain from committing any outrages for the future;
(2) to restore at once to the Wali of Gwadur all the cattle looted by the Rinds nf
,aSt 6Ummer ' 0r " ^ oncethe full
(3) t0 Itt. as"we S aCC0Unt h 0 ' 0 " r
with the wishes *. f the Government nf rni; a K, ? t accordance
.heir masters of eseaped slaves has been, and afw^sTiH
102. On the part of the Governmemt of India it was agreed that—
(1) the bond for Rs. 7,010 would not be enforced, so long as the Rinds
committed no further offence; '""gas me ^.nas
(3) ^wouldno^lhS" 1 W0Uld , arrange that . for the future the W aH
but would cpn/7fK UnaWay s ves 0 ' the Rinds to remain in Gwadur,
possible; and away to Karachi or elsewhere as soon as
(3) if the Wall allowed any of the runaway slaves of the Rinds to
remain for more than 15 days at Gwadur, and the owner of the
vLlueo^heTlave! WaIi Should pay the master the
• 103. The Government of India accepted the agreement concluded bv
Major Ramsay, subject to the proviso that they would meet charges connected