Slave-catching in the Indian Ocean.

A scarce work by Captain (later Vice-Admiral) Colomb, the inventor of 'Colomb's Flashing Signals', recounting his travels and encounters with the Omani slave trade.

Colomb captained H.M.S. Dryad in the Persian Gulf where he made a study of the Arab Slave Trade centred around Zanzibar and Oman. 'His book is far the most interesting and informative of the accounts published by sundry officers who served on the East India station. It is distinguished by a studied moderation which commands the respect of the reader' (Coupland, The Exploitation of East Africa, 1856-1890).

Includes chapters on Muscat and Oman, and the Persian Gulf, as well as Zanzibar and Madagascar. Colomb's visit to Bahrein coincided with disturbances brought about by the ousting (by the British) and subsequent return of Mohammed-bin-Kalifah, who was supported by Mubarakal- Abdullah and Rashid-bin-Muselim, who were in turn backed by the Wahabis. The plan was to use dhows from Khor Hassan to ferry Rashid's forces to Bahrein, but rather than risk incurring the wrath of either the British on one side or the Wahabis on the other by becoming involved, the inhabitants of Khor Hassan sought refuge with Mohammed-bin-Thani. Colomb visited Wukra to meet Mohammed-bin-Thani and here describes his encounter and attempts to cure the sheikh's blindness (pp.154-160).

First edition; 8vo (22 x 15 cm); folding map, 8 plates including frontispiece; contemporary quarter blue calf, burgundy cloth boards, gilt spine with gilt morocco lettering piece, all edges gilt, remains of shelf label removed from upper board, a little wear, a very good copy; viii, [4], 503 pp.

Hogg, 3302.