Chapter X: Something About the Slave Trade

British and French pressure--The general question--A naval
narrative.

But though dhow captains and ex-slaves keep their mouths shut, the old records, fortunately, tell us something concerning the slave trade, which, thirty odd years ago, the British took such effective measures to stamp out in all territory coming under their influence. I am speaking of the Red Sea and Somali coast. Before the French began to make their presence felt in what is now French Somaliland, and whilst that territory was still a sort of no man's land between British territory on the south and Italian territory on the north, the principal port for the exportation of slaves was at Tajura on the gulf of that name, a small Danakil native town north-west of Djibouti. Danakil territory extends far north of Tajura along the coast into Italian territory, past Asab, another small port on the Red Sea.

The trade was in the hands of the Sultan of Tajura, his friends and a few other influential natives. These people owned dhows flying the Arab flag, and were in the habit of running their human cargo into the port of Hodeidah. As British pressure was more and more brought to bear from the south, and similar Italian pressure from the north, it is easy to understand that the trade at Tajura increased greatly, particularly after that port, held for some time by a small Egyptian garrison, was finally abandoned by the Egyptian government, thus removing the slight restraint caused by the necessity of bribing the Egyptian officials.

But, simultaneously with their effective occupation of the Southern Danakil coast, stern measures were taken by the French against the Sultan of Tajura and his friends, whose activities were, in consequence, gradually curtailed, and finally forced to cease altogether. The Italians experienced the greatest difficulty of all in destroying the trade as their ports were situated in the Red Sea, and nearer to the slave markets. Dhows from there ran less risk of capture than those from the French and British ports, which had to pass through the straits of Perim. But the Italians were keenly alive to this fact, and spared no efforts to stamp out the nefarious trade.

In regard to the general question--the best means of suppressing slavery in this part of Africa, at the time of which I speak--the minds of the various authorities were much concerned, some advocating one course of procedure, others another.

The following narrative by the commander of a British man-o'-war not only provides a vivid description of how the work was done, but throws some light on the horrors of the trade itself. It is headed "Successful capture of slaves off Moka in the Red Sea," and runs as follows:--

"On the morning of 16th September, 1888, at daylight, three
dhows were sighted from the ship, steering to the northward with
a fair breeze. The ship took up a position to cut them off from
the shore, some five miles distant, and having closed them to
about half a mile she hoisted the British flag, and fired blank
charges from her guns as a signal to them to lower their sails.
They paid no attention to the signals, but separating from each
other tried to run past the ship and get inshore of her. It
becoming evident now that they were slavers, shots were fired
across their bows as a further warning, and they were hailed
also to lower their sails. Their only reply was a jeering shout,
as they were running very fast, and it appeared as though two at
least must escape capture; but they reckoned without their host,
as will be seen further on.

"The ship beat to quarters, and orders were given to fire at the
masts of the dhows. Shots from the seven inch and the sixty-four
prs. passed repeatedly through their sails, but masts and
halyards were not struck and the dhows held on their courses,
rapidly diminishing the distance between them and the shore,
now only about two miles distant. The order was then given to
open fire with the Gardner guns in the Tops, at the dhows' poops
where the steersman sits. The effect of the showers of bullets
was instantaneous; the captain of the largest dhow was killed at
once, and, no one caring to take his place at the helm, she came
to the wind and the crew lowered her sail. An armed boat was
sent to take charge of her.

"The ship then chased No. 2 dhow, who seeing the first dhow had
given in lowered her sail and gave in also. In the meanwhile
No. 3 dhow had got far away, and an exciting chase took place,
the ship firing from all her guns at every possible chance, the
dhow doing her best to get away; but a lucky hit brought her
to, her captain, being struck while steering her by a shot from
the Gardner gun, sprang up and fell overboard; she then gave
in. While chasing this dhow, dhow No. 2 had tried to hoist her
sail and get away, but the boat's crew promptly opened fire on
her with their rifles; she then finally gave in. The crews and
owners of the slaves were then brought on board (thirty-three in
number). These men were in charge of the slaves, but the real
owners are large merchants in Jeddah, Mecca, Hodeida, and other
Turkish ports in the Red Sea. The slaves, two hundred and four
in number, were then brought on board; they were chiefly from
the district of Goojan in Abyssinia; the females especially
seemed to have been well taken care of as they fetch a high
price. The dhows were then taken in tow and the ship proceeded
to Aden.

"The greater part of the rescued slaves were Christians, amongst
whom were some very clean, tidy, and intelligent girls varying
from six to eighteen years of age. It seems monstrous that they
should be taken to satisfy the lusts of Turkish Mahomedans. They
were all well looked after on board, and seemed to recognise
that they were among friends, for they were soon laughing and
chatting; parties among them who had been separated in the dhows
were hugging and kissing each other in a very affectionate
manner. Whatever their future may be it cannot be worse than
that from which they have escaped. A great many Europeans at
Aden are offering to take care of them, and there seems every
chance of the greater part at least having happy homes."

That report was written thirty-one years ago, and the slave trade is a thing of the past. At least, just so long as civilised nations continue to hold and administer this wild country. But the hearts of the men who are now our subjects are the hearts of the slavers their fathers, fierce, cruel, and unchanged. I think the story told by the gallant sailor is sufficient justification for our coming here, and for our remaining here. It certainly convinces me.