'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' [‎91] (99/126)

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Kemball ^rom^Basrah— Tayl0r 0n the 30th 0ctober l8 S2 writes thus to Captain
in these parts, I have 6 the honour^o^ubfoin'the^ollowing .J^ eSeo ' s '®' e of lhe s,ave t^de
traffic, occurred during 3 'the'" go vcrnraTnt o? towarc ' s a suppression of the
were tendered for their information. Knorance as to the firmans, copies of which
v ... , Under the s e cireiimstaiiGes, therefore, it is not surprising that the trade whir!i im
Nejib s removal from the Baghdad Government, had materia ly decreed shSuW
in a great measure have again assumed a great portion of its former exlent T^
importance, and under existing circumstances it affords far greater inducements to imnrtrt
than former years, for the prohibition has materially e g rhanced the
present day the price of a healthy slave adult ranges from 150 to 200 Shamis, which in
former years could have been procured for 40 or 50. '
^ From the fact of their being in a manner smuggled ip f o the Turkish terrifnrv r
cannot with any certainty arrive at the true number of slaves imported ; the greater portion
thf^Fi 111 k f be,ng conveyed overland from Queit to Sookest Shinkh and o^her towns on
he Euphrates for aisposal.^ Those intended for the Busrah market are generally secreted
occurs "for thel^saTe!' 0113 rUlnS W1 W ^ the t0Wn abOUndS ' 1111 a faVOrable 0 PP or tunit y
" From all the information I have been able to collect, which is but scanty and meagre
consequent upon the unwillingness of my informants to enter into details, it appears to me
that the Soor people, the Ahl-es-Suahel and some few of the Queit shipowners, are the
importers, Queit being the entrepot for the slaves destined for these parts: and I am
informed that the importations take effect in small coasting craft of so small a draught as
to enable them totally to elude the vigilance of the Honourable Company's cruizers."
11. From the above particulars it will be seen that notwithstanding our
treaties for the suppression of slavery, notwithstanding the cruize of a vessel
of war off the Batinah Coast, and other suspected localities, to intercept slavers
in May and June 1852, slave trade was in its full vigour in that yean The
alarming extent to which it was ascertained to be existing incited Captain
Kemball who, together with his predecessor. Colonel Hennell, had ever been most
earnest in his endeavours to repress the infamous traffic, to devote even more of
his energies towards its extinguishment.
12. In May 1852, as already stated, a vessel was deputed on slave service,
but, notwithstanding the exertions of her Commander, Lieutenant Tronson, but
little resulted from her cruize. The cause that may probably be assigned to this
vide Captain Kembaii's despatch to a. Maief failure is the plan adopted by slavers of
fu?"' 8 :hief Secretar7 to Government, No. 45 of landing their living freights at intermediate
Uyl S2, . depots, which conveniently abound on the
coasts of Batinah and Oman for subsequent removal in small numbers at
pleasure." Moreover, as observed by Captain Kemball in his communication
to Government of the 22nd May 1852, the Tigris, the vessel that was deputed,
was deficient in equipment for slave duties, and little hopes of a harvest could
be anticipated from her employment.
13. Presuming upon his local experience, the Resident submitted to Govern
ment that the sympathies of the Chiefs and all Mahomedans in the Gulf lay
entirely with a continuance of the slave traffic. No "voluntary co-operation
could therefore he looked for at their hands. On our own endeavours and exer
tions alone must rest the hope of extinguishing slavery.
Vide paragraph 3 of letter from Captain Suggested the advisability of "adopt'
Kemball to Mr. Secretary Malet, No. 85 of i n g measures tO CUt off the Supply from
November 1852. . 0 . . . rr J
its original source.
Vide Captain Kembaii's despatch to Mr. He exhibited the inequality of action and
Secretary Maiet, No. 46, under date July 28, pressure that existed among the several
treaties and agreements in force in the
Gulf.
14. In the case of the Maritime Arab Chiefs and of His Highness the
Imam of Maskat we possessed the right to seize and confiscate vessels carrying