Letter No. 40 of 1850 from Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to the Government Bombay, to Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf [‎7r] (5/8)

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* u j)retext w^iajtsoever, they (the Government Cmizers) shall seize and confiscate the
* “ same.”, <$ f
‘ And whereas, on the third day of May, in the said year one thousand eight hun-
* dred and forty-seven, an Engagement was concluded by the .said Major S. Hennell, on
* behalf of Her Majesty,* and Shaik Saeed Bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboothabee, whereby
‘ it was agreed as foil >ws:—
‘ “ I, Saeed Bin Tahnoon, Shaik of the Beni Yas, Chief of Aboothabee, withna view
‘ “ to strengthen the bonds of friendship existing between me and the British Govern-
< “ ment, do hereby engage to prohibit the exportation of Slaves from the coasts of Africa
‘ “ and elsewere on board of my vessels, and those belonging to my subjects or dependents,
* ‘ “ such prohibition to take effect from the 1st day of Mohurrum, 1264, a. h. (or 10th
‘ “ December 1647.)
Ci
f .“ And I do further consent, that whenever the Cruizers of the British Government
‘ “ fall in with any of my vessels, or those belonging to my subjects or dependents, sus-
‘ “ pected of being engaged in the Slave Trade, they may detain and search them ; and
‘ “ in case of their finding that any of the vessels aforesaid have violated this Engage-
‘ “ ment, by the exportation of Slives from the coasts of Africa or elsewhere, upon any
.‘“pretext whatsoever, they (the Government Cruizers^) shall seize and confiscate the
‘ “ same.” ^
‘ And whereas, on the eighth day of May, in the said year one thousand eight
‘ hundred and forty-seven, an Engagement was concluded by the said Major S. Hennell,
‘ on behalf of Her Majesty, and Shaik Mahomed Bin Khuleefa Bin Subman, Chief of
f Bahrein, whereby it was agreed as follows :—
‘ “ I, Mahomed Bin Khuleefa Bin Subman, Chief of Bahrein, with the view to
‘ “ strengthen the bonds of friendship existing between me and the British Government,
‘ “ do hereby engage to prohibit the exportation of Slaves from the coasts of Africa and
‘ “ elsewhere on board of my vessels, and those belonging to nrjfsubjects or dependents,
‘ “ such prohibition to take effect from the tst day of Mohurrum 1264, a. h. (or 10th
‘ “ December 1847, a. d.) t
‘ “ And' I do further consent, that whenever the Cruizers of the British Govern-
■ ‘ “ ment fall in with any of my vessels, or those belonging to 1113' subjects or dependents,
‘ “ suspected of being engaged in the Slave Trade, they may detain and search them ;
‘ “ and in case of their finding that any of the vessels aforesaid have violated this En~
* “ gagement, by the exportation of Slaves from the coasts of Africa or elsewhere, upon
‘ “ any pretext whatsoever, they (the Government Cruizers) shall seize and confiscate
‘ “ the same.”
‘ And whereas it is expedient that effectual provision should be made for carrying into
* execution the Provisions of the said several Agreements’ : Be it therefore enacted, by the
Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority
of the same, That it shall be lawful for the the Commanders and other Officers of Her Ma
jesty’s Ships of War, or of the East India Company, to visit and detain in any Seas any
vessel belonging to either of the said respective Chiefs, Shaik "Sultan Bin Sugger, Chief of
the Joasmee Tribe, Muktoom Bin Buttye, Shaik of Debaye, Abdool Azeez Bin Rashid,
Shaik of Ejman, Abdullah Bin Rashid, Shaik of Amulgavine; Saeed Bin Tahnoon, Shaik of
the Beni Yas, Chief of Aboothabee, Mahomed Bin Khuteefa Bjn 'subman, Chief of Bahrein,
or to any of their subjects or dependents, which shall, upon reasonable grounds, be suspected
of being engaged in the traffic in Slaves, or having been fitted out for that purpose, and to
send or carry away such vessel, together with its Masters, Sailors, Passengers, Slaves, and
Cargo, for the purpose of such vessel being brought to adjudication as hereinafter mentioned. 2
2. And be it enacted. That it shall be lawful for the High Court of Admiralty of Eng
land, and for all Courts of Vice-Admiralty in any dominions of Her Majesty beyond the
Seas, including those Courts of Vice-Admiralty within the territories under the Government
of the East India Company, to take cognizance of and try any such vessel which shall be de
tained or captured for the violation of the said Agreements, and to condemn any such vessel
to Her Majesty, and adjudge as to the Slaves found therein, in like manner, and under such