The answers to the first and Second Questions must of necessity be somewhat vague, from the want of time and opportunity for making a reference to the Custom House registers of the several Ports on the Persian Coast of the Gulf. The statements of those, the best informed, with whom I have been able to communicate, agree pretty nearly, differing in no material points. The conclusions from them are as follows. Average number of African slaves sold annually at
of Hubshees at
Allowing an importation of 100 or 150 of the former, and 10 of the latter, to Asseloo, and the other numerous small ports, would give a total of 1(H)0 and 80 respectively, annually imported into Persia, through the Ports in the Gulf, but this by no means forms the whole number that find their way into the interior of that Country, from the South; for Bussora and Bagdad are the largest Marts whereby far the greater proportion is carried, the actual number from which places however I have been unable to ascertain or even to form a guess at.
The large number of Pilgrims that go annually from Persia to Mecca and to Kerbela etc. return with slaves averaging rich and poor, one to each Pilgrim.
Of African Slaves imported the number of Males bears somewhat a greater proportion to the females-six to five.
Of Hubshees By far the greater number are females-two to one.
The females are somewhat more valued than the Males. A good stout lass will sell for 35 dollars. The profit on the above at Muscat is 20 per cent and at Bussorah and Bushire never less than 50 per cent.
The Hubshee females are much prized for their beauty and Symmetry of figure. Their value [is] from 300 to 1000 koronies or indeed to any amount. The Males also are much valued-their price from 200 to 600 and upwards.
After 20 the slaves of both sexes whether Hubshee or Africans deteriorate much in value, from their being at that mature age less tractable, and taking less kindly to the language religion, and customs of their Masters.
The treatment of the slaves is at no time either severe or cruel, but they are most compelled to rough it during the sea voyage when they are very scantily clothed and supplied with but sufficient food, and that coarse, to keep them alive. From the moment of purchase at their eventual destination however their condition is materially changed for the better, (the purchasers in general feeding and treating them almost as kindly as the Members of their own families, they in return work hard, willingly and well & appear to be happy and contented) unless indeed they become the property of other slave Merchants from the Interior when the condition remains much the same. In travelling from one place to another, they are supplied with Mules. In the boats they are not bound or manacled.
The Men are employed in all hard and out door work, the women in cooking, bringing water etc. and but very rarely as concubines except by the poorer and lower classes.
Children horn in bondage are free but are nevertheless provided for by the owners of their parents and with them entitled to the same rights and privileges.
The Hubshee Slaves of both sexes are at all times much cared for well clothed and well fed. The Males are early sent to school and having learnt to read and write are employed in the performance of house duties as Peish khidmuts etc. etc. and very frequently if intelligent in the most trustworthy situations as supercargos of ships. stewards and superintendents.
The Females are most generally retained as concubines or employed in the lightest duties as attendants in Harems, bringing Kaleeons etc. The intelligence and honesty of Hubshee slaves are almost proverbial. The children by these concubines are heirs equally to the Estate of the Father with their legitimate offspring.
Nubian and Hubshee Eunuchs are very high priced and only to be seen in the service of the King, Nobles and very rich Merchants.
In forwarding the above account I trust it may not be considered an act of Su- perogation my giving the accompanying short statement of the policy that has been hitherto pursued, and a summary of those portions of the Several treaties that have been entered into with the Imaum of Muscat and the Principal Arab Tribes with regard to the traffic in slaves, as a knowledge of our Political powers by treaty in this Quarter may tend to elucidate the subject and facilitate the attainment of so great an end as the suppression of a traffic, so contrary to the best feelings of humanity.
A treaty was first entered into with the Imaum of Muscat in 1822, by which a Right of Search was granted to British Cruizers for all vessels belonging to the subjects of His Highness, suspected of having slaves on board, intended for sale rendering the same liable to confiscation on conviction, if found eastward of a line drawn from Cape Delgade passing 60 miles to Seaward of the island of Socotra, and ending at Deer Head unless they should happen to have been driven beyond the line specified by stress of weather.
In December 1839 three articles were framed in supercession to the above, and agreed to by the Imam. By the two first of which all vessels belonging to his subjects are liable to search and seizure etc. if found Eastward of a line drawn from Cape Delgade passing 2 degrees Seaward of Socotra to Pusseenor on the Mekran Coast, with a reservation that the vessels have not been driven beyond the line by stress of weather or other case of necessity. The 3rd Article provided that the sale of any individual of the Soomonlee tribe (inhabiting the country opposite to Aden and bordering on Abyssinia) who are considered Hoor or Free, shall be considered as Piracy, and that those who may be convicted in such an act, shall be treated as pirates. In the same year these said three articles formed the treaty which was entered into with all the Shaiks except those of Bahrein and Koweit. This treaty greatly extended our right of search etc. and prohibits the importation of slaves under any circumstances into Scinde, Cutch etc.
In 1820 a treaty was entered into with all the chiefs on the Arabian Coast, except the Imam of Muscat and the sheikh of Koweit, an article of which prohibits the carrying off of slaves and renders any vessels having such on board liable to be treated as pirates.
In 1838 an agreement was entered into with all the chiefs on the Arabian Coast with the exception of the Shaiks of Koweit and Bahrein, which authorizes the Government Cruizers to detain and search any vessels belonging to those chiefs, or their subjects, suspected of having any individuals whom the crews may have kidnapped, on board, and renders them liable to be confiscated on conviction. Whatever may have been the intention in framing these two Articles (the latter being merely a modification of the former at the expiration of nearly 20 years) certain it is that not a single seizure has been made for their meaning has not hitherto been held to preclude those (parties to them) from purchasing slaves from others although they may have been Kidnapped and carrying them on board their vessels with the intention of selling them.
I have the honor to be etc.
/Sig. of A. B. Kemball
Asst. Resident, Persian Gulf
6. Letter from the Sultan to the Vizier Mehmed Nejib Pasha, Governor of Baghdad (9 Safar 1263 A.H./January 27, 1847)
Whereas special agreements were made between the British government and certain rulers on the African continent, to prevent the transportation of black slaves from the said African continent to America and other places, it has been observed that certain merchant ships are still approaching the African coasts, stealing slaves, and transporting them elsewhere. Since, for this reason, it has not been possible to enforce the provisions of these agreements, the British government has requested that we help them in this and initiate the appropriate measures.
The treatment accorded to slaves who are stolen and transported to those parts is harsh and bereft of humanity and mercy, to a degree not comparable with the treatment of slaves coming to these parts. Since, for this reason it is in accordance with justice and compassion to prohibit the slave trade, henceforth it is totally prohibited for merchant ships flying the flag of my state to engage in this traffic of slaves. If any of them violate this prohibition, then with God's help they will be seized by our warships to be sent to those waters or by British warships cruising in those parts. The ships will b
e surrendered to the officers in our ports on the Gulf of Basra, and their captains will be arrested and punished.
7. Draft of a Letter from the Grand Vizier Mustafa Reshid Pasha to the Governor of Tripoli (Libya) (21 Muharrem 1266 A.H./ November 28, 1849)
The Sultan has received, with sorrow, the shocking and evil news that a caravan which set out from Bornu in June with a great number of black slaves, bound for Fezzan, ran out of water on the way, so that 1,600 blacks perished.
It is a well-known fact, which there is no need to state, and which was indeed sent in writing to your province in the time of your predecessor as governor, Raghib Pasha, that while our Holy Law permits slavery, it requires that slaves he treated with fatherly care; those who act in a contrary manner will he condemned by God.
Those people whose practice it is to bring such slaves from inside Africa and make commerce with them, if they wish to bring thousands of God's creatures from such far places and bring them through such vast deserts, then it is their human duty to procure the necessary food and drink for the journey, and ensure that these unfortunates suffer as little as possible on the way. When these people in no way accept this duty, and cause the death of so many human beings in misery and suffering, they are behaving in a way that is not compatible with humanity.
The Sultan can neither condone nor forgive such cruel conduct, and such inhumane behavior is categorically and emphatically forbidden. It will be announced and clearly conveyed to them personally, that if the people engaged in this trade in these regions treat their slaves in a manner contrary to humanity and justice, and if slaves thus perish on the way from thirst and hunger, they will be subjected to various severe punishments. Since it is an obligation of the official duties of a holder of authority to give no scope to such cruel persons and actions, you will be held responsible and reprimanded for the slightest negligence on your part. You will therefore henceforth give this matter your close and personal attention, so that slavedealers known to have acted in this cruel way and notorious in this regard will be brought before the courts and subjected to condign and exemplary punishment. This is required by the Sultan's exalted command.
8. Letters from Benghazi Concerning the Traffic in Slaves (1875)
Bengazi 31 December 1875
His Excellency
the Right Honorable Sir Henry Elliot ACB
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's Dispatch No. 5 of the 11th October last with Inclosure.
I inclose herewith a copy of a report I have made to the Secretary of State by his request, on the Slave Trade at OzIa and Jalo from which Your Excellency will gather how far the reports of Moustapha Pasha to the Sublime Porte are in accordance with the truth.
His Excellency cannot plead ignorance of the real state of affairs as the Kaimacam of Jalo (whom I know very well) has reported to him the extent to which the trade in slaves is being carried on, and when I was in Jalo in November last the Kaimacan [sic] informed me of the purport of a Dispatch which he had then addressed to His Excellency on this very subject and which I myself forwarded to him through Mr. Drummond Hay.
I would not accuse His Excellency of Wilful misrepresentation but his Dispatch to the Minister of Foreign Affairs must have been written under a very great misapprehension or without having taken any pains to ascertain the truth. When I was at Jalo the Kaimacam and myself verified the arrival of 118 slaves by a caravan which had arrived at Jalo the day before me and I handed the names of the forty three owners of the slaves to the Mutasariff of Bengazi on my return. The caravan arrived here some time ago but I only succeeded in liberating three of the one hundred and eighteen slaves and that after such opposition that I have been obliged to abandon all hope of liberating any others.
With reference to Hadi Harried Mehduai. I can only state that he was caught by my own cavass' in the very act of shipping five slaves for the Levant and the then Governor imprisoned his two servants for four months; and during the time they were in prison Hamed Mehduai paid them a dollar a day each and they were only liberated after he had paid the usual hush money to the Pasha.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,
P. Henderson
P.S. I would request that the name of the Kaimacam of Jalo should not be mentioned as the person from whom I derived my information as I fear, were it known, it might he prejudicial to him. P.H.
Copy
No. 3
Slave Trade
Bengazi 24 December 1875
The Right Honorable the Earl of Derby
My Lord
With reference to Mr. Lister's No. 1 Slave Trade of the 31st of August last I have the honor to report to your Lordship that, availing myself of the sanction contained therein to visit the slave entrepot in Jalo I accomplished this journey last month Mr. Kirri having acted for me during my absence.
At the last moment many obstacles were put in the way to prevent my making the journey and the Governor much to my surprise and disappointment declined to accompany me, as he had volunteered to do alleging the road to be too dangerous, the season to be unfavorable and various other excuses too frivolous to be worth a moments consideration, but promising if I would postpone my journey for a month or two to accompany me without fail.
I determined to go without him as a favorable opportunity presented itself for enabling me to meet a large caravan which had arrived at Koffra from Wadai and which was expected to arrive at Jalo about the same time as I had calculated I would arrive at that place myself and it was to prevent my attaining this object that so many difficulties were placed in my way. When the Pasha found that his refusal to accompany me in no way changed my determination he formally protested against my going, refused to give me the usual escort and hinted at detaining me by force. I however provided my own escort and left Bengazi on the 28th of October. After my departure the Pasha thinking better of his refusal sent an escort after me, and although it increased the expense of my journey considerably was very useful to me.
I was most desirous to inspect this caravan from Wadai in order to see and judge for myself if the various accounts which had reached me, of the deplorable condition of the negroes on their arrival and the excessive cruelty of their masters were exaggerated or not. The Slave dealers at Jalo considered my presence there as a most unwarrantable intrusion on a locality sacred to slavery and previous to my arrival had held a meeting at which it was resolved that I should not be permitted to enter the oasis at all. On my arrival however their resolution quite failed them and after reading my firman to the principal sheiks all opposition ceased and they received me hospitably and placed every facility at my disposal for visiting the different villages in the Oasis.
The caravan had arrived five days before me and I was unable therefore to verify by personal observation the exact number of slaves it brought but I saw and learnt quite enough to convince me of the magnitude and atrocity of the Slave trade at this place.
I was informed that two hundred and fifty two slaves had arrived with this caravan but I can only assert that it brought one hundred and eighteen as I was enabled to verify this latter number myself.
I quite believe that the former number is in no way magnified but owing to the shortness of the time at my disposal and the unwillingness of the people to give me any information on this subject I could not verify their number. 1 therefore confine myself to the smaller number as I am adverse to making a statement of this kind unless I am satisfied of its accuracy.
Two hours before entering the oasis we met four slaves in charge of an Arab on their way to Ozla and as we entered the palm groves we met another Arab leading a female slave by a rope tied around her waist. These slaves had arrived by the caravan. A little further on some ten or twelve were crouching round a well. I went up and examined them; they had also arrived on the caravan and could not speak a word of Arabic. They were emaciated to mere skeletons, their long thin legs and arms and the apparently unnatural size a
nd prominence of their knees and elbows and hands and feet giving them a most repulsive and shocking appearance and I have never seen in all my life a more disgusting spectacle than they presented. I have seen the slaves in Cuba and in Brazil but their very value in those countries ensures their being well fed and well treated.
The poor creatures who are brought to Jalo from the interior do not fetch more than Ten or Twelve Pounds and if one out of every three reaches Jalo alive the owner still realizes a profit which amply repays him for all his risks as the cost of a slave in Wadai is from three pieces of calico upwards.
Twenty three degrees these miserable beings traverse on foot, naked, under a burning sun with a cup of water and a handful of maize every twelve hours for their support. For fourteen days between Tukkru and Jahuda not a drop of water is found and the caravan pursues its weary journey depending for its very existence on the gerbas which have been filled up at the wells of Tukkru. Thirst and hunger in vain lessen the numbers of the exhausted negroes. in vain they drop down way worn and fainting on the dreary journey to die a frightful death in the desert. The market at Jalo must be supplied and supplied it is but at what a cost of human life.
The journey from Morah, the capital of Wadai, to Jalo is one of unparalleled hardship and fatigue and cannot be accomplished under three months, two being consumed in actual travel. In Koffra the distance is about fifty days journey.
The distance in days journey between the intermediate resting places on the route are, as described to me by the courier, as follows
Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Enquiry Page 25
