"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٤‎٨‎٣] (١٢٦٢/١٠٠٠)

('?■
2483
time under discussion, the Shah of Persia in an autograph note, dated
12th June 1848, agreed to prohibit the importation of^ negroes into
Persia by sea; and instructions in this sense were at once issued by the
Persian Government to the Governors of Fars and 'Arabistan. ^ The
exportation as well as the importation of negroes by sea was prohibited
by the orders given ; but both governors were informed that it was not
intended to interfere with the traffic by land.
In order to make these orders operative, a Convention, to take effect Convention
from the 1st of January 185^ and to remain in force for eleven years only J 8 ^ gus
from the date of the Convention, was concluded in August 1851 between
the British and the Persian Governments through Colonel Sheil, the
British Minister at Tehran. It provided that ships of war belonging^ to
the Royal and Indian Navies should be at liberty to search Persian
merchant vessels for African slaves, the Persian Government at the
same time undertaking that none should be imported in Persian Govern
ment vessels; but no search was to be undertaken without the parti
cipation of Persian officials who were to be carried on the British war
vessels. If slaves were found they were to be removed by the British
authorities, who should dispose of them; but guilty vessels were to be
handed over to the Persian authorities. Slaves in Persia, when about to
travel by sea, should be provided with special passports by the Persian
authorities at Bushehr; and they should not, if this were done, be inter
fered with.
The Convention of 1851 was renewed by Article 13 of the Treaty of Treaty of
Peace between Britain and Persia, signed at Paris on the 4th of March Pea«^ 1857>
1857 : and it was agreed that the period of its operation shouH be -
extended by ten years, viz., from August 1862 to August 1872, after
which it should continue to be in force until the expiration of one year
after a formal declaration of annulment by either party.
The Convention of 1851, as extended by ^ the Treaty of 1857, Conventioa
remained in force until the 1st May 1882, when it was superseded by a 1832
Convention concluded at Tehran on the ^nd March 18 • _ ^ uew
Convention made it lawful for British cruisers to visit and detain
Persian merchant vessels engaged, or suspected of being or ot having
been en^ao-ed, in carrying slaves, apparently without the co-operation ot
Persian officials ; if slaves were found on board, the vessel and all in it
were to be taken before the nearest Persian authorities tor trial; a u y
authorised British officer was to be present at the adjudication ; i
the vessel were condemned, the proceeds of its sale were to go to the
Persian Government, any slaves taken being delivered over to the
British authorities. His Majesty the Shah undertoo o _ pums
severely any of his subjects or any persons subject to his jurisdiction
who might be found engaging in the slave trade by sea, and to
manumit and guarantee the safety and proper treatment of slaves
imported by sea in violation of the Convention. Persons proceeding on
pilgrimage and taking slaves with them were to be provided with a
special Persian passport countersigned by a British Resident or Consu
i and, if at theii return they were not accompanied by a greater nnmber ot
| negroes than was mentioned in the passport, they should not be liable to
interference.
166 A