Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

320 APPENDIX.
selected to bo sold at a liigli price for the harems
of Arabia and Persia. The dhow was taken
alongside the ' Lyi'a,' and these slaves were
taken out. A fatigue party from the Lyra
'
was sent into the dhow to take out the provisions,
but each man as he went into the hold
of the dhow fainted away ; the doctor then gave
orders that the vessel was to be towed out and
scuttled, and he said from the frightful stench,
and the state the dhow was in, if she had gone
to sea, there could be no doubt that in a week
the whole of those slaves would have died ; that
I think is a very common case.
They go to sea
so ill provided, that the sufferings of the slaves
are very great, and particularly if they have put
off their departure to the last, or if the northern
winds set in earlier than usual, and they cannot
beat up against them ; then the sufferings are
frightful."
563. Mr. Shaw Lefcvre.] " What is the average
length of the voyage to Muscat ? " Thirty
to thirty-five days ; if they have any slaves on
board, they have to put in at two or three ports
for water; and that circumstance gives great
facility to our cruisers to check the trade,
because they have only to watch a few ports on
the coast to the north, and they are sure to
catch a great many of those dhows."
564. Chairman.'] " Do you tliink by active