(b.) Par la voie de Russie

75 5 25

Golfe Persique..
Indes Britanniques

Voie de la Compagnie “Eastern."

Europe et la Compagnie "Eastern
Indes Britanniques

SIR,

REPORTS on the Suppression of the Slave Trade in the
Persian Gulf.-May 1896.

Lieutenant-Commander Story to Rear-Admiral Drummond.

Lapwing, at Muscat, May 25, 1896.

I HAVE the honour to report that on the night of the 20th May, while at Muscat, I sent three boats away slave cruising, with orders to cruise down the coast of Oman, calling in at Bander Jissa and Bander Khairan, searching all inlets and bays along the coast, and to board all boats or dhows that they should happen to meet.

The cutter, of which Lieutenant Francklin was in charge, having got down to Bander Khairan about 2 A.M., anchored, waiting till daylight on the 21st, when she got under weigh, and as she was coming out from behind a point she sighted a badan under sail to the southward, evidently making for Bander Khairan. Directly the badan saw us she went about, running down the coast, the dhow's crew getting out their oars and giving way. The cutter at once gave chase, but the badan, being some distance off, had got a start; they ran into a bay, beached the boat, and then crew and slaves landed and made for the hills. Lieutenant Francklin appears to have gained on them, and, landing a few minutes later, followed them up with a part of his crew, and managed to capture fourteen slaves and two slave-owners, the rest, namely, captain of badan, four crew, and two slaves effecting their escape. It does Lieutenant Francklin great credit in managing to capture as many as he did, considering the very wild and rocky state of the coast where they effected a landing.

With regard to paragraph 2, Article 137, of Station Order Book, the steps taken to bring the badan to were: first, two blank charges fired across her bows, and then a round of ball cartridge across her bows; but the only result was that the Arab crew made greater efforts to escape.

The fourteen slaves and two slave-owners, having been reembarked in the badan, and taken in tow by the cutter, with a seaman in charge to steer her, they made for Muscat; but the wind and tide proving too much for them, Lieutenant Francklin decided to sail them back in company, and having put the coxswain of cutter, two able seamen, and a native boatman on board the badan, made sail in both boats, when, after they had got a mile from the shore, the badan's rudder became unshipped, and she capsized. The cutter immediately went to their assistance, and managed to save the fourteen slaves, two slave-owners, coxswain of cutter, native boatman, and one able seaman; but Thomas Glen (A.B.), I regret

to state, was missing, and although Lieutenant Francklin appears to have done everything possible, he was unable to find anything whatever of the missing man.

Lieutenant Francklin appears to have done all he could to save the dhow, but finding the tide was too strong, and he was unable to tow her ashore, took her measurements, and, after destroying her as much as possible, abandoned her and returned to the ship with the survivors, arriving on the morning of the 22nd at Muscat.

As soon as steam could be raised, I proceeded down the coast in Her Majesty's ship Lapwing to try and recover the remains of the missing man or any part of the dhow, and after two days' search gave it up.

The coxswain of cutter, who was placed in charge of the badan, states that when he went into the boat she was making water, and had her bailed out, and that when a mile from the shore the rudder came unshipped, and a heavy sea running, the boat became unmanageable and capsized, when they were all thrown into the water. The dhow did not sink, and they managed to cling on to her, and were picked up by the cutter.

With regard to paragraph 3 of Article 137 of Station Orders, the slaves, on arrival at Muscat, were handed over to the British Consul, fourteen in number, together with two slave-dealers. The case was tried before Her Majesty's Consul on the 25th and 26th May, and the dhow condemned, and fourteen slaves were manumitted.

The dhow measured 9.8 tons according to scale.

The form required by Station Orders, herewith inclosed, answers the points required by Article 58, p. 11, of Slave Trade Instructions.

I have inclosed a letter from Lieutenant Francklin, who was the officer sent away in charge, and who made the capture.

Rear-Admiral Drummond.

I have, &c.,

RD. H. STORY.

SIR,

(Inclosure.)-Lieutenant Francklin to Lieutenant-Commander Story. Lapwing, at Muscat, May 23, 1896. I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in accordance with your orders, I left the ship in the cutter in company with the whaler and gig, manned and armed, for the purpose of slave cruising, at about 8:30 P.M. on the night of the 20th instant, and proceeded in a southeasterly direction down the coast of Oman. At about 2 A.M. on the morning of the 21st I arrived at Bander Khairan, and pulled round the bay. I saw nothing till daylight, when, about 5:30 A.M., I

weighed and proceeded out of the harbour under sail. Just as I came clear of the rock behind which I had anchored I saw a badan coming round the point at the south end of the bay under sail. Seeing me, she immediately went about, and ran back round the point, the men in her getting their oars out and giving way. immediately gave chase, and, coming clear of the point, saw her making for a sandy beach in a bay about a mile down the coast.

She was at this time about half-a-mile ahead of me. I ordered my men to get their oars out, and, giving way, we gained slowly on her. I fired two rounds of blank, and then one of ball, across her bows, of which no notice was taken, the men only giving way the harder. By this time she was nearly on the beach. Directly she touched the sail was lowered, and slaves and crew jumped out and made for the hills.

I was about five minutes behind them when the cutter ran up on the beach, and, jumping out with the native boatman, gave chase, telling four of the boat's crew to follow as soon as they could provide their rifles, and, leaving the coxswain and remainder in charge of the boat, I passed the first slave when I had gone about a quarter of a mile. As I went on I passed others, and after having gone about a mile I came up with one of the Arab slave-owners, whom I made a prisoner of. Leaving him in charge of one of my men, I went on for about another mile, but seeing no signs of any more slaves or owners, I turned back.

My men, meanwhile, had marched the fourteen slaves and another Arab owner whom they had captured back to the boat. On questioning the Arabs I elicited the information that two slaves, the master of the badan, and four boatmen had escaped. Owing to the intensely rocky nature of the ground, I did not make any further search.

I then placed the fourteen slaves and two owners in the badan in charge of a seaman, and took her in tow. After getting clear of the bay, I found that I could make no way against the wind and sea, so determined to sail back in company with the badan. For this purpose I put my petty officer, two A.B.'s, and the native boatman into the badan, with orders to make sail and keep close to me. I then made sail in the cutter.

Having hoisted the sail in the badan, the rudder came unshipped, and, becoming unmanageable, she was thrown on her ben end and capsized. I immediately went to their assistance in cutter, and succeeded in picking up every one with the ex Thomas Glen (A.B.), whom I deeply regret to report

After having searched for the missing man for

turned my attention to the badan, and tried

owing to the sea, and the tide setting

1