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in this profits of a scarcely disguised Slave Trade, they were unable to advise me of any practical steps which the existing laws would justify directing against this trade. The Commanders of those Ships were averse to giving me information.
In this state of the law, I was reluctantly compelled to defer any further action pending my Despatch No. 18 of 22nd January, 1873, and entering this Harbor, will modify the law; but unhappily, local laws, however stringent, cannot prevent the fitting and carrying on of their trade in neighboring waters a few miles distant.
It is proper for me to state that my visit to the Ships named was made without previous notice, and that the information detailed in the draft accompanied it.
I am of opinion that the Ordinance which is the subject of your Lordship's reply to my decision upon it, falls short of the entire prevention of Ships fitted for the Coolie Trade. The Memorandum freely and frankly given by the Carpenter of the "Jeanne Canevaro" was in entire ignorance of who his visitors were.