"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٤‎٨‎٠] (١٢٦٢/٩٩٧)

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obtained from the Qasimi Shaikh o£ Sharjah, authorising the detention
and search of vessels belonging to his subjects, when suspected of
carrying off: or embarking slaves, and the confiscation of the same on
proof of slaves having been carried off or embarked. Similar agree
ments were signed also by the Shaikhs of ^Ajman, Dibai and Abu
Dhabi, but not, apparently, by the Shaikh of Umm-al-Qaiwain.
Agreement I n the following year this Agreement was remodelled so as t 0
of 1839. authorise the detention and search of suspected, and the confiscation of
guilty vessels and their cargo by British cruisers, only if found outside a
restrictive line running from Cape Delgado to a point two degrees
seaward of Soqotrah and thence to Gwadar Head; and confiscation was
not to be enforced if the line had been crossed under stress of weather
or otherwise involuntarily. It was added, this being a result of inqui
ries to which the reports regarding the enslavement of Somalis had given
rise, that Somalis were e ' Hurr " or free, and that traffic in Somali slaves
should therefore, after the expiry of four months, be punished as piracy.
The modified Agreement of 1839, was executed by the Shaikh of Abu
Dhabi on the 1st of July 1839, by the Shaikhs of Dibai and Umm-al-
Qaiwain on the 2nd, and by the Shaikh of Sharjah on the 3rd of the
same month. Apparently no Agreement was secured, on this
occasion, from the Shaikh of ^Ajman. The Resident in the Persian
Gulf, Captain Hennell, was warmly commended by the Governor-
General of India in Council for obtaining these A greements, which,
it was believed, would make possible the extinction of the African slave
trade upon the coasts of India.
Agreement of l n 1847 a further and more stringent Agreement was obtained
1847. from the five Trucial Shaikhs, whereby they engaged to prohibit the
exportation of slaves from any place whatever on board vessels belong
ing to themselves and their subjects, and consented to the detention and
search, and—in case of guilt —to the confiscation, of such vessels by
British cruisers. The new Agreement was signed by the Shaikhs at
various dates in April and May of 1847, and it took effect from the
10th of December of the same year.
Act of the To enable British officers and ships to take action upon the
1st August Agreement of 1847 an Act (12 and 13 Vic., Cap. LXXXIV), dated
1st August 1849, was passed ; its terms resembled those of the Acts of
1848 and 1853 relating to Masqat and Sohar.
Engagement To further the objects of the Agreement of 1847 a fresh Engage-
of 1856. m ent was secured in 1856 from each of the Trucial Shaikhs, by which
the signatories bound themselves to seize and deliver up to the British
authorities any slaves who might be shown to have been brought into
their territories or into places subject to their authority, also to place
an embargo on any boat which might have been used in the commission
of a slaving offence and to hold it at the disposal of the British Political
Resident.
Assurances of In 1873 assurances of adherence to existing agreements in respect
1873. 0 £ s i ave trade were furnished by the Shaikhs of Sharjah and Abu
Dhabi,