'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎90r] (184/222)

•
167
Batinah Coast in Muscat territory for onward despatch to the slave mart at
Hamasah (Chapter 6, paragraph 96). It is known that Fujairah was concerned in
this traffic and it is probable that abductions also took place from the Trucial
Coast towns, but as in those days the Government of India refrained from
interference in the internal affairs of the Trucial States A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. they did not come to notice.
It is also believed that from time to time slaves have been sent by sea from the
Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. to Qatar or Kuwait for sale in Saudi Arabia and two such cases in
which Dubai was concerned, have come to notice since the last war (paragraph 20
above). Before the period under review, Dubai was reported as playing a
prominent part in the slave traffic( 129 ) and it is probable that certain members of
its ruling family and its mercantile community are still the principal agents through
whom slave-dealers in Hamasah and Saudi Arabia obtain their goods.
138. After the last war a regular traffic in slaves between the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates.
towns and Hamasah developed and a detailed report on the subject was submitted
by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at the beginning of 1949.( 150 ) This showed that in 1947
and 1948 reports had been received of 48 persons, mostly women and children,
being sold into slavery, all except two of whom had been forcibly kidnapped. It
should be noted here that although by their treaties the Rulers are only bound to
stop the traffic in slaves by sea, none of them has ever denied his responsibility lor
stopping it also by land. The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. discussed the ways and means ot
bringing political and economic pressure to bear upon the Rulers to enforce this
responsibility and enquired whether resort could be had to naval bombardment
when^ircuinstances appeared to justify this.C") He had previously recommended
the bombardment of Hirah on account of the complicity of its Shaikh in an
abduction and called attention to the fact that sanction had been received to
bombardment of Abu Dhabi in similar circumstances in 1938. His enquiry led
to much inter-departmental discussion and no definite reply appears to have been
"it but it was decided that naval bombardment was no longer practicable
(ii) Domestic Slavery ir. iQS?r 13 ^
139. According to a report s " b f| tt ®^K® st ai^a number of slaves are
domestic slavery is widespread on the Trucia , being taken by their
employed by the oil company, a prop 01 " 1 ' f manum i ss ion and a number of
masters. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. exercises ^ surrounded the
slaves are freed every year. Since 1931 r, tlie return 0 f S ome slaves who
house of the Arab 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. Agent and interfere with this
had applied for manumission, no attempt has been maue
right. ,
i ™ taken uo with the Rulers at the
140. The question of domestic ? la ^ e ^ ,^3 n( j t j ie y W ere urged to follow
third meeting of the Trucial Council m reC ently abolished slavery in his
the example of the Ruler of Qatar who had^ inst i tut io n and it was
territory. The Ruler of Sharjah S P° , ^ R U iers could not afford to pay
argued that its abolition was , f Qitar had done. Eventually all agreed
compensation to the owners as the Ru ^ institution should gradually
without enthusiasm that it was desi Rulers undertook to issue
disappear. At the next K meet 'f slaves.("')
decrees prohibiting the buying and & . £ .
^rmpcted not to engage m future, any
141. In 1952 the oil company were suc h persons already in
persons who were known to be slaves n y pointed out that it was difficult
their employ when occasion arose. employing slaves and it is not known
for them to obtain sufficient labour without emp )
to what extent they have complied with the request.
') p ara 5 a t n. 136, P.G. 13. . q 4 q fp 1765/1731/91 of 1949).
') P.R. to P.O. Despatch 10 of Janua ^"i949 (E 1424/1731/91 of 1949).
1 ) PR toFO 132/3/49 of January 2, 1^/4 0 £ 1952).
2 ) P.R. to P.O. Despatch 50 of May l ^, 5 ^ 953 (EA 1015 /4 of 1953).
') P.R. to P.O. Despatch 106 ot uece
(129
(130
(131
(132
(] 33
46639