IOR/R/15/1/138, ff 394-413

The letter and its enclosures relate to the importation of slaves onto the Persian coast, and the determination of the whereabouts of those slaves. Kemball's letter has two main enclosures, each of which retain their own enclosures:

1. Letter no.265 of 1853 (folios 396-98) from Kemball to William Taylour Thomson, His Majesty's Chargé D'Affaires at the Court of Persia, Tehran, dated 14 September 1853. Kemball reports of the recent import of seven slaves into a port near Bushire, and the Persian slave trade commissioner Meerza Mahmood Khan's apparent inability to ascertain the details and whereabouts of the alleged importation. Enclosed with Kemball's letter are a number of enclosures:

• A translation of a letter (folio 399) from Kemball to Khan, dated 6 September 1853, in which Kemball requests that Khan have the nakhoda and crew of the boat involved in the importation of slaves be brought under oath, so that the matter may be settled;
• A translation of Khan's reply to Kemball's letter (folio 400), dated 9 September 1853, in which Khan says that the nakhoda and crew have refused to take an oath, and that the matter should be taken up with the authorities in Tehran;
• A translation of Kemball's reply to Khan (folio 401), dated 13 September 1853, expressing his surprise at the refusal, and requesting that Khan establish the whereabouts of the slaves, one of whom is a recently castrated eunuch in need of medical attention;
• A translation of Khan's subsequent reply to Kemball (folios 402-03), dated 13 September 1853, in which Khan states that the only course remaining for establishing the truth of the matter, is to despatch a letter to Ahmed Khan at Tungistoon (near Bushire) for the purpose of making enquiries;
• A translation of Kemball's subsequent reply to Khan (folio 404), dated 132 September 1853, in which Kemball writes that he has already despatched a letter to Ahmed Khan in Tungistoon, three days previously;
• A translation of Khan's subsequent reply to Kemball (folios 405-06), dated 14 September 1853, in which Khan states that he has written to Ahmed Khan in Tungistoon, and that he is 'at a loss how to act';

2.Letter no.322 of 1853 (folios 407-08) from Kemball to Taylour Thomson, dated 18 October 1853, updating Taylour Thomson on proceedings in the case of seven imported slaves, who have now located. Kemball encloses a number of statements with his letter, including one from the nakhoda of the boat which imported the slaves, a sailor on the boat;

3. Letter (folios 411-13) from Taylour Thomson to Kemball, dated 20 October 1853. The letter is a reply to Kemball's first correspondence (folios 396-98). Taylour Thomson encloses a letter addressed (in Persian) to the Persian slave commissioner Meerza Mahmood Khan (folio 412), which enjoins Khan, under threat of dismissal, to either bring the nakhoda and crew of the boat to oath, or to impose a fine on them for having imported slaves.