'File XXIX/2 Slavery in Kuwait' [‎51v] (102/296)

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should be issued, if deserved, by the Consul concerned after enquiry, without the
intervention of the Persian authorities, but subject to reierence to the Resi
dency in case (ii) above.
MANUMISSION OF SLAVES.
Part II.
Notes for guidance on Arabian shore of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I.—Kuwait.
Authority.
We have no Slave Trade Treaty with the Chief of Kuwait, and no general
orders have been issued by Government.
Procedure.
Negroes should be given no encouragement to take refuge at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
Correspondence ending with Foreign Department lu the CclS6 of a slave belonging to a
letter No. 44,18 E.-B., dated the nth November master domiciled in Kuwait, the Political
190 J, and snbsaqnen. demi-offidal correspond*,*. Ag0nt a( . Ms discretionj dec l ill9 to
intervene. When circumstances make this course difficult the case should
be reported to and discussed with the Shaikh of Kuwait, with a view to
reconciling slave and his master. If the case is one of real cruelty tho
Shaikh should if feasible be invited to acquiesce in his manumission.
Reference to higher authority need only be made in flagrant cases in which
the Shaikh has failed to give reasonable relief.
In the case of a slave belonging to a master not domiciled in Kuwait the
slave should ordinarily be passed on to Bushire, or, if this is not practicable, a
report of the case should be forwarded to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. for orders, the slave
being given protection in the meanwhile.
II.— Bahrain.
Authority.
Engagement of 1856 with the Chief of Bahrain (Aitchison, page 158 ,
volume XII).
Procedure.
1 . All negroes claiming to be slaves and seeking manumission are
received under the protection of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . Males are lodged in the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
premises under the charge of the guard. Women are as a rule put up outside
in the quarter of the Free Slaves, for which they make their own arrange
ments.
2. There is only one exception to the grant of refuge to slaves, and that
is in the case of those hailing from Kuwait. There are objections in such
cases to charging to Government the cost of the passage of a negro sent back
to Kuwait; the best plan is to endeavour to avoid the necessity of doing so by
informing the slave that he cannot be given a manumission certificate and
that if he remains in the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and his master claims him, he will have to
be sent to Kuwait in order that his case may be enquired into, and that his
best course under the circumstances is to make himself scarce.
Kuwait slaves are, therefore, not considered in what follows.
3 . Slaves fall under two classes according to whether their masters
reside in Bahrain, or abroad.
. .