IOR/R/15/1/138, ff 321-333

The letter and its enclosures relate to the seizure by Captain Stradling of the Honourable Company's schooner Constance of two slavers sailing under the flag of the Imam of Muscat. Kemball writes that the monsoon season is too far advances to allow the emancipated slaves to be sent to Bombay, and that they will remain at Muscat under the charge of the British Agent there for the present. There are a number of enclosures included with Kemball's letter:

1. Letter no.78 of 1853 (folio 323) from Commodore George Robinson, Commanding Officer of the Persian Gulf Squadron, to Kemball, dated 13 June 1853, enclosing further letters related to the seizure of two boats carrying slaves:

• A letter (folios 324-25) to Robinson from Lieutenant Stradling, Commanding Officer of the Honourable Company's Schooner Constance, dated 12 June 1853, giving an account of the interception and searching of two boats under the Imam of Muscat's flag, and the subsequent discovery of thirteen slaves;
• A further letter (folios 326-37) from Stradling to Robinson, dated 13 June 1853, giving more details of the discovery of slaves;

2. A translation of a statement (folio 328) made by Said ben Humud, nakhoda of the boat Fath ul Mubareck, taken on 14 June 1853, in which the nakhoda is asked to explain why slaves were found on his boat;

3. A translation of a statement (folios 328v-29) made by Ahmed ben Saeed, nakhoda of the boat Saad, taken on 14 June 1853, in which the nakhoda is asked to explain why slaves were found on his boat;

4. The deposition (folio 329) made by Mr Gates, midshipman on board the H.C. Schooner Constance, made on 14 June 1853, who was in charge of the boat sent to board and search the two boats carrying slaves;

5. A statement (folios 329v-31B) of Meerza Juwad, interpreter on board the H.C. Schooner Constance, made on 14 June 1853, who questioned the nakhodas of the two boats found carrying slaves;

6. The translated substance of a letter (folios 332-33) from the Native Agent at Muscat, to Kemball, dated 21 May 1853, confirming the arrival in Muscat of the H.C. Schooner Constance, and the boats Fath ul Mubareck and Saad. The date of the letter is presumed wrong, as being before, not after, the initial capture of the two slave boats.