APPENDIX II. 



427 



seize all vessels carrying slaves. The effect was principally 

 moral. Although the instructions for the guidance of the Com- 

 mander enjoined him to carry out the wishes of the Home and 

 Indian Governments for the suppression of Slavery, yet there 

 being no published treaty between the Imperial Government 

 and the Porte sanctioning to us the right of search in Turkish 

 bottoms, his interference would not have been supported by the 

 Ottoman local authorities. It may be well to state, that after a 

 Firman had been published in the Hejaz and Gem en abolishing 

 the trade, the Turkish Governments of Jeddah and Hodaydah 

 declared that the English Commander might do as he pleased, 

 but that they declined making any written request for his assist- 

 ance. For its present increased duties, for the suppression of 

 the Slave-trade, for the protection of British subjects, and 

 for the watching over Turkish and English interests in the Red 

 Sea, the Aden Squadron is no longer sufficient. During the 

 last two years it has numbered two sailing vessels, the ' Elpl tin- 

 stone? a sloop of war, carrying twelve 32-pounders, and two 

 12- pounders ; and the ' Mahi? a schooner armed with one pivot 

 gun, 32-pounder, and two 12-pounders. Nor would it be bene- 

 fited by even a considerable increase of sailing vessels. It is 

 well known that, as the prevailing winds inside the sea are 

 favourable for proceeding upwards from September to April, so 

 on the return, during those months, they are strongly adverse. 

 A fast ship, like the ( Elphinstone? requires 30 days on the 

 downward voyage to do the work of four. Outside the sea, 

 during those months, the current sets inward from the Indian 

 Ocean, and a ship, in event of very light winds falling, has been 

 detained a whole week in sight of Aden. From April to 

 September, on the contrary, the winds set down the Hed Sea 

 frequently with violence; the current inside the sea also turns 

 towards the Indian Ocean, and outside the S.W. Monsoon is 

 blowing. Finally, sailing ships draw too much water, In 

 the last year the 6 Elphinstone' kept the Arabs away from 

 Jeddah till the meanness of the Sherif Abd el Muttalil? had 

 caused his downfall. But her great depth (about from 14-6 to 

 15 ft.) prevented her approaching the shore at Hodaydah near 

 enough to have injured the insurgents, who, unaware of the fact, 

 delayed their attack upon the town till famine and a consequent 

 pestilence dispersed them. With little increase of present ex- 

 penditure, the Bed Sea might be effectually commanded. Two 

 screw-steamers, small enough to enter every harbour, and to 

 work steadily amongst the banks on either shore, and yet large 

 enough to be made useful in conveying English political officers 

 of rank and Native Princes, when necessary, would amply 

 suffice, a vessel of the class of H.M's gun-boat, * Flying Fishy 



