to state, was missing, and although Lieutenant Francklin appears to have done everything possible, he was unable to find anything whatever of the missing man.

Lieutenant Francklin appears to have done all he could to save the dhow, but finding the tide was too strong, and he was unable to tow her ashore, took her measurements, and, after destroying her as much as possible, abandoned her and returned to the ship with the survivors, arriving on the morning of the 22nd at Muscat.

As soon as steam could be raised, I proceeded down the coast in Her Majesty's ship Lapwing to try and recover the remains of the missing man or any part of the dhow, and after two days' search gave it up.

The coxswain of cutter, who was placed in charge of the badan, states that when he went into the boat she was making water, and had her bailed out, and that when a mile from the shore the rudder came unshipped, and a heavy sea running, the boat became unmanageable and capsized, when they were all thrown into the water. The dhow did not sink, and they managed to cling on to her, and were picked up by the cutter.

With regard to paragraph 3 of Article 137 of Station Orders, the slaves, on arrival at Muscat, were handed over to the British Consul, fourteen in number, together with two slave-dealers. The case was tried before Her Majesty's Consul on the 25th and 26th May, and the dhow condemned, and fourteen slaves were manumitted.

The dhow measured 9.8 tons according to scale.

The form required by Station Orders, herewith inclosed, answers the points required by Article 58, p. 11, of Slave Trade Instructions.

I have inclosed a letter from Lieutenant Francklin, who was the officer sent away in charge, and who made the capture.

Rear-Admiral Drummond.

I have, &c.,

RD. H. STORY.

SIR,

(Inclosure.)—Lieutenant Francklin to Lieutenant-Commander Story. Lapwing, at Muscat, May 23, 1896. I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in accordance with your orders, I left the ship in the cutter in company with the whaler and gig, manned and armed, for the purpose of slave cruising, at about 8:30 P.M. on the night of the 20th instant, and proceeded in a southeasterly direction down the coast of Oman. At about 2 A.M. on the morning of the 21st I arrived at Bander Khairan, and pulled round the bay. I saw nothing till daylight, when, about 5:30 A.M., I

weighed and proceeded out of the harbour under sail. Just as I came clear of the rock behind which I had anchored I saw a badan coming round the point at the south end of the bay under sail. Seeing me, she immediately went about, and ran back round the point, the men in her getting their oars out and giving way. I immediately gave chase, and, coming clear of the point, saw her making for a sandy beach in a bay about a mile down the coast.

She was at this time about half-a-mile ahead of me. I ordered my men to get their oars out, and, giving way, we gained slowly on her. I fired two rounds of blank, and then one of ball, across her bows, of which no notice was taken, the men only giving way the harder. By this time she was nearly on the beach. Directly she touched the sail was lowered, and slaves and crew jumped out and made for the hills.

I was about five minutes behind them when the cutter ran up on the beach, and, jumping out with the native boatman, gave chase, telling four of the boat's crew to follow as soon as they could provide their rifles, and, leaving the coxswain and remainder in charge of the boat, I passed the first slave when I had gone about a quarter of a mile. As I went on I passed others, and after having gone about a mile I came up with one of the Arab slave-owners, whom I made a prisoner of. Leaving him in charge of one of my men, I went on for about another mile, but seeing no signs of any more slaves or owners, I turned back.

My men, meanwhile, had marched the fourteen slaves and another Arab owner whom they had captured back to the boat. On questioning the Arabs I elicited the information that two slaves, the master of the badan, and four boatmen had escaped. Owing to the intensely rocky nature of the ground, I did not make any further search.

I then placed the fourteen slaves and two owners in the badan in charge of a seaman, and took her in tow. After getting clear of the bay, I found that I could make no way against the wind and sea, so determined to sail back in company with the badan. For this purpose I put my petty officer, two A.B.'s, and the native boatman into the badan, with orders to make sail and keep close to me. I then made sail in the cutter.

Having hoisted the sail in the badan, the rudder came unshipped, and, becoming unmanageable, she was thrown on her beam end and capsized. I immediately went to their assistance in the cutter, and succeeded in picking up every one with the exception of Thomas Glen (A.B.), whom I deeply regret to report was drowned. After having searched for the missing man for about an hour I turned my attention to the badan, and tried to tow her ashore, but oxing to the sea, and the tide setting us off the shore, at 5 P.M. I

gave up the attempt and cast her adrift, as, having sixteen extra people in the boat, it was imperative that I should get back to the ship.

As the wind had gone down, I pulled till about 2·30 ▲.M., when I anchored in a small bay till daylight, then once more got under weigh and returned on board.

The men under my charge behaved admirably throughout the very heavy and arduous work they had to perform, being under oars practically from 5:30 a.м. on the 21st till 2:30 A.M. on the 22nd. I have, &c.,

Lieutenant-Commander Story

PHILIP FRANCKLIN.

REPORTS relative to the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa.-May 1896.

SIR,

Commander J. Startin to Rear-Admiral Harry H. Rawson.

Barrosa, at Zanzibar, May 10, 1896. I HAVE the honour to report the capture of a 16-ton slave-dhow, name unknown, under the following circumstances :—

The second cutter of this ship, while cruising among the islands of Menai Bay on the 6th instant, sighted a dhow sailing under no colours, and signalled to her to heave-to. She took no notice of the signal, but on the cutter signalling again she lowered her sail slightly, then put her helm up and ran before the wind. She was captured, and found to have six slaves on board (being brought from Dar-es-Salaam), and no papers.

The case was tried in the Consular Court here on the 9th instant, the dhow condemned and broken up, the captain sentenced to four years' imprisonment with hard labour, and the two owners to two years each, also with hard labour.

I have, &c.,

Rear-Admiral Rawson.

JAMES STARTIN, Commander.

SIR,

Commander J. Startin to Rear-Admiral Harry H. Rawson.

Barrosa, at Zanzibar, May 20, 1896. I HAVE the honour to report the capture of a canoe, name unknown (engaged in the Slave Trade), under the following circumstances:—

The first cutter of this ship, while cruising off Niamembe on the

8th instant, sighted a canoe and signalled to her to heave-to. Her crew took no notice of the signal, but ran her on shore, and they and three slaves jumped overboard and made for the bush.

The slaves were persuaded to return, but the crew escaped and could not be traced.

The canoe was burnt, being quite unseaworthy, and the slaves were brought to Zanzibar, where the case was tried on the 18th instant and decided in favour of the captors.

The slaves were brought across from Dar-es-Salaam.

I have, &c.,

Rear-Admiral Rawson.

JAMES STARTIN, Commander.

Commander J. Startin to Rear-Admiral Harry II. Rawson. SIR, Barrosa, at Zanzibar, May 26, 1896. I HAVE the honour to report the capture of a slave - dhow 69-7 tons, name unknown, under the following circumstances :—

The first cutter of this ship, while cruising in Pemba Channel on the 13th instant, sighted a dhow, and signalled to her to heave-to. She paid no attention to the signal, but shook out a reef in her sail and endeavoured to escape. After a prolonged chase and constant firing she was boarded off Pansa Island, and found to have seven slaves on board. She was accordingly made a prize of, and brought to Zanzibar, where the case was tried in the Consular Court yesterday, and given in favour of the captors.

The dhow was condemned and broken up; the slaves have been handed over to the Mission.

I have, &c.,

Rear Admiral Rawson.

JAMES STARTIN, Commander.

SIR,

Commander J. Startin to Rear-Admiral Harry H. Rawson. Barrosa, at Zanzibar, May 26, 1896. I HAVE the honour to report the capture of a dhow, Feres, Z. 547, of 52.5 tons, under the following circumstances :

The steam-cutter of this ship, while cruising off Qwala Island on the 22nd instant, boarded the above-named dhow, and, finding two slaves on board, seized her and brought her to Zanzibar, where the case was tried before the Consular Court and decided in favour of the captors, the dhow condemned and broken up, and the slaves handed over to the Mission.

I have, &c.,

Rear-Admiral Rawson.

JAMES STARTIN, Commander.

TREATY signed by the Queen of Madagascar, respecting the Relations between Madagascar and France.-Antananarivo, January 18, 1896.

RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE.

Résidence Générale de Madagascar.

Tananarive, le 18 Janvier, 1896.

CE 18 Janvier, 1896, la Reine de Madagascar, en son Palais d'Argent, en présence du Résident-Général de France et du Premier Ministre de son Royaume, a signé l'Acte dont est ci-joint le texte original.

Sa Majesté a conservé un exemplaire de ce texte.

HIPPOLYTE LAROCHE,

Résident-Général de France.

Déclaration de la Reine de Madagascar.

Sa Majesté la Reine de Madagascar, après avoir pris connaissance de la Déclaration de prise de possession de l'Ile de Madagascar par le Gouvernement Français, déclare accepter les conditions ciaprès :

ART. I. Le Gouvernement de la République Française sera représenté auprès de Sa Majesté la Reine de Madagascar par un Résident-Général.

II. Le Gouvernement de la République Française représentera Madagascar dans toutes ses relations extérieures.

Le Résident-Général sera chargé des rapports avec les Agents des Puissances étrangères; les questions intéressant les étrangers à Madagascar seront traitées par son entremise.

Les Agents Diplomatiques et Consulaires de la France en pays étranger seront chargés de la protection des sujets et des intérêts Malgaches.

III. Le Gouvernement de la République Française se réserve de maintenir à Madagascar les forces militaires nécessaires à l'exercice de son autorité.

IV. Le Résident-Général contrôlera l'administration intérieure de l'île.

Sa Majesté la Reine de Madagascar s'engage à procéder aux réformes que le Gouvernement Français jugera utiles au développement économique de l'île et au progrès de la civilisation.

V. Le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté la Reine de Madagascar