Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

THE CRUISE OF THE " DAPHNE." 167
and of hiding some of them under their cargoes.^
On the morning of the 1st November, we
observed the cutter, under charge of Mr. Henn,
chasing a dhow outside her, which, on seeing
us, lowered her sail, and a few minutes after
she was brought alongside, with 156 slaves in
' It has been found impossible on some occasions to
measure the dhows for tonnage, as they were wrecked in
the surf and broken up in a few minutes ; in such cases the
boats cannot reach them and an estimate for tonnage has to
be made by competent officers. Owing to the peculiar construction
of these dhows, and to the fact that sometimes nearly
one-fourth of their capacity is represented by the huge steru
and peculiar raised poop of these vessels, the usual method
of ascertaining tonnage is inapplicable. I have seen some
of the smaller dhows, the whole outline of which much resemble
in plan the section of a Minie rifle-ball, and with the
exception of the northern bateeles and badanes, much superior
vessels, and the largest of the dhows or hugalas, they are but
floating tubs. The duty of measuring these vessels is very
much disliked by officers.
The best plan I can suggest to prevent any misconception
is, that the average tonnage of the dhows captured within
the last few years be taken, and that in future, whatever the
size of the slaver, the bounty be allowed for each dhow captured
on the basis of that average. The average tonnage,
according to the Blue Books of 1869 and 1870 was, in 1868,
113-487 tons, and in 1869, 109-598 tons. The average of
those captured by the "Daphne" in 1868, was eighty tons.