File 3939/1926 Pt 6 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties. Persian Gulf Section.' [‎398r] (231/818)

OMAN (MUSCAT).
3'
Kathiawar, Cutch/ and Karachi, and upwards of four degrees westward,
in the limits within which his subjects were forbidden to engage in the
slave-trade. In the fourth article of the Arabic version of the treaty of
1822 no mention was made of the obligation of the ruler of Muscat or
his authorities to assist in the apprehension of British subjects engaged
in the slave-trade, although this obligation was distinctly specified in the
English version. He was therefore urged to have the omission rectified
by an addition to the Arabic text. He was, however, averse from altera
tion being made in the treaty; but in a separate letter, dated the 18th
August 1845, he bound himself, his heirs, and authorities to afiord
assistance, when required by persons authorised to demand it, in appre
hending British subjects engaged in the slave-trade.
In 1845 Saiyid Said entered into a Treaty* (No. YI) prohibiting, from
the 1st January 1847, the export of slaves from his African dominions,
and their importation from any part of Africa into his dominions in Asia;
and agreeing to use his influence with the Chiefs of Arabia, the Red Sea,
and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to put a stop to the slave-trade. The treaty,
however, did not prohibit the transport of slaves from one port in his
African possessions to another. In consenting to this treaty he requested
that three additional articlest might be added, prohibiting the search of
his vessels in the limits within which the transport of slaves was allowed
under the treaty, and of his vessels coming from the Arabian and Red
Seas to Africa; and stipulating that, if slaves were stolen from the
Zanzibar territories, he should not be held responsible. These articles
do not appear to have been formally agreed to; but Saiyid Said was
informed, in the name of Her Majesty’s Government, that British ships
of war would search only such vessels under the Muscat flag as might
reasonably be suspected of being engaged in the slave trade; that, there
fore, the description of vessels mentioned in the articles would not be
searched unless there should be good ground for suspecting them to be so
engaged; and that, in any case, if they should be searched and found
not to be so engaged, that fact would be ascertained in a very short space
* An Act of Parliament, 11 and 12 Viet., Cap. CXXVJil, was passed to give
effect to this treaty. See Appendix No. III. J
t Additional Articles to the Agreement concluded on the 2nd October 1845,
corresponding to the 29th Ramzan 1261 Hijra, proposed by His Highness the
Iraamj of Muscat.
‘ Article 1. J
That no vessels belonging to His Highness Saiyid Said bin Sultan, the Imam
of Muscat, or belonging to his subjects, be searched by English men-of-war between
the boundary of Lamu to the north and Kilwa to the south, mentioned in the
treaty concluded on the 2nd October 1845, corresponding with the 29th Ramzan
1261. j v.
1 ' Article 2. j
It may perhaps be reported to them (the British Government) that an indivi
dual has stolen slaves from the territories of Saiyid Said, the Sultan of Muscat,
which are in Africa; unless this be proved, His Highness Saiyid, the Sultan of
Muscat, shall not be called to account for it.