Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

THE CEUISE OF THE "DAPHNE." 155
ing we sliould hug the coast of Africa on our
way, and on my accepting the freight, they
came to the conclusion that there would be no
vessel in their way on the North Coast. We
received much information that threw suspicion
on the legal traders in the harbour, besides
definite information regarding the full slavers.
From past experience I came to the conclusion
that, excepting in these northern and the
licensed slave dhows, there were no fittings in
them to be relied on as evidence of their carrying
on this trade, and even in these there was
scarcely anything but the unmistakable bamboo
deck ; I had, therefore, made a rule never to
detain any vessel but northern ones, from the
fact alone of their having slave fittings, but only
on the ground of their actually having slaves on
board. The distinction at this time between
what were domestic
slaves, and what were not,
there had never been any doubt about :
it was a
line easily drawn, and is now, in spite of the
doubts that have been cast over it in India, by
means of objections adopted to mystify it,
reflecting on some officers who, on the first
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