Letter and Enclosures from Commodore Sir Leopold George Heath on the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and Suggestions for its Suppression [‎97v] (12/12)

12
Inclosure in No. 4.
Commander Meara to Commodore Sir L. Heath.
Si 1 '* " Nymphe," at Aden, June 5, 1869.
I HAVE to report to you that during my cruize along the West Coast of Madagascar
in the months of February and March this year, for the suppression of the Slave Trade, I
met a number of dhows under French colours, which 1 boarded, and found that they all
had French papers, signed by the Governors of Mayotta and Nos Beh.
While lying at anchor in Bembatooka Bay, off the town of Majunka, a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. with
French colours arrived, which I boarded myself and asked for her papers, which were
shown me. I asked if there were any passengers on board; the captain answered,
Yes,—they are all mentioned in the papers. There were thirteen slave women and four-
boys on board, who stated that they had.been bought at Zanzibar. No one on board
spoke one word of French I took a copy of his papers, which I beg to forward.
Acting Lieutenant Clarke, during his cruizing in the boats, has boarded thirteen
dhows under French colours, six of which he considered to be suspicious—one having six
slaves on board, but as she was under French colours she was not searched. Another
dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. under French colours he chased into an inlet near False Cape, on the West Coast of
Madagascar, which chase occupied five hours. On boarding her, she showed French
papers from Nos Beh, and from the appearance of the state of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. she looked very
much as if she had just landed a cargo of slaves. Acting Lieutenant Clarke landed early
next morning and went about four miles into the bush, found numerous tracks of human
beings, but only came across four or five natives, who were fishermen, which led
him to believe that slaves had been landed from that same dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , and driven into the
country.
Sub-Lieutenant Hodgson also boarded eight dhows under French colours while boat-
cruizing, and he also reported to me that two of them were very suspicious.
I also beg to report to you, that during the cruize of Her Majesty's ship 4< Nymphe''
on the same coast in 1868, the officers have reported to me that only ten dhows under
French colours were seen; whereas this year I have seen as many as fiftv, and I may sav
more, under French colours,
I am, &c.
(Signed) E. S. MEARA.
PaiNTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. R. HARRISON.— 12/11/69.