Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

J,
APPENDIX. 307
December, 1867, eighteen dhows were captured,
and 431 slaves were emancipated ; those being
the cargoes of the eighteen dhows. During that
year, the squadron were all employed in Annesley
Bay in the Expedition against Abyssinia,
and the efforts against the slave-trade were comparatively
small.
In the year ending December,
1868, the total number of vessels captured was
66 ; the total tonnage of these dhows was
7233 ; and the total number of slaves liberated
was 1097. In the year 1869 the total number
of dhows captured was 32 ; the total tonnage
of those dhows was 3431; and the total number
of slaves liberated was 1117. During
the second year's cruise my ships were distributed
principally along the coast of Arabia,
from Ras-el-Hadd as far as MacuUa, one being
stationed near Socotra, and two down in the
Zanzibar neighbourhood.
The vessels boarded
during the spring season were upwards of 400
dhows ; out of those 400 dhows there were but
eleven slavers, and in those eleven slavers there
were 958 slaves. I am exceedingly puzzled to
know how it is that the enormous number of
slaves exported get along the coast without
being found out.
I believe that very few dhows
could have passed the squadron during those
months ; and though, comparing the wants of
Zanzibar with the known importations at Zanzi-