3-021-382 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Suppression of the Slave Trade on the east coast of Africa: running on shore of a slave-dhow to escape capture, 1869. Engraving depicting '...the running on shore of an Arab slave-dhow, in order to escape capture by H.M.S. Daphne, whose life-boat is seen landing through a heavy surf, in the endeavour to rescue the slaves. The Arabs engaged in the slave trade, when they find escape impossible, prefer risking the lives of the slaves and wrecking their vessel to being captured by a British ship, and many lives are frequently lost in the attempt to run ashore. From the information which our officers have received from liberated Africans, it appears that the Arabs impress upon their wretched slaves the necessity of using their utmost endeavours to prevent themselves falling into the hands of the white men, who, they tell them, are little better than cannibals. On the present occasion only seven little children were rescued, who, when the main body, consisting of about 180 men, women, and children, fled inland, were unable to keep up with them. Our Illustration of this scene shows H.M.S. Daphne in the offing, with two dhows in tow, captured the previous day'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.