Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

170 DHOW-CHASING.
on our passage back to
Zanzibar, to feed these
negroes.
On the 4th November, the " Star," Commander
De Kantzow, made her number, and I be-
Heve her appearance was hailed with pleasure by
every one, as it was evident we had fallen upon
a nest of slavers bound for Muscat, in accordance
with the information received at Zanzibar.
On
the other hand, I was ordered not to delay longer
on the coast; our coals were much reduced
by this service, and our upper deck was now
crowded * with slaves, for it was out of the question
keeping them in the dhows, some of them
unseaworthy, and in attempting to tow them
they would have sunk. Mr. Churchill, C.B.,
Consul at Zanzibar, was on his way to Bombay
in the " Star," but as I felt it necessary, under
the circumstances, to leave the coast, I directed
the " Star " to remain, to intercept the rest of
this slave fleet, and invited Mr. Churchill on
* I have not mentioned each vessel taken, as the number
eventually amounted to fifteen dhows on this part of the
coast, having 322 slaves in all, and the story of the capture
of each one would but be a repetition.