ملف ١٣/ ٢ II "أنشطة تجار الرقيق في منطقة مسقط" [و‎‎٦‎٣] (١٤٢/١٢٥)

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—
The practice of manumitting slaves hitherto observed in Muskat
is as follows t
When a slave applies for freedom as this Consulate, his statement
is taken down in writing. he is then sent to the Sultan with the Agency
Munshi for the purpose of verifying his statement made at this Consulate
and for His Highness’ consent to his freedom.
The Sultan after questioning the slave either informs the munshi
that the slave may be freed when he finds him to be of recent importation
or of date subsequent to the treaty of 1873 or in doubtful cases i.e. when
the date of the slaves importation cannot be clearly ascertained His Highness
requests that the slave may be detained for a short time 10 to 15 days-
irapending the arrival of his master to claim him. If one cones and cannot
produce before the Consul satisfactory evidence that the nan was imported
before the Treaty or if no one comes within the period mentioned the slave
is given freedom with the consent of the Sultan.
In recent years cases of slaves imported before the Treaty seeking
freedom at this Consulate have been rare. To such freedom is denied or
rather the Sultan is not asked to give his consent unless cruelty or inhuman
treatment is proved in which case freedom is given with the consent of the
Sultan; otherwise when slaves not entitled to freedom under treaty appear
to be well fed and clothed and in good condition they are not entitled to
freedom and are returned to their masters by the Sultan who makes the masters
sign a bond by which they undertake to treat the slaves thus returned with
kindness