The trade was in the hands of the Sultan of Tajura, his friends and a few other influential natives. These people owned dhows flying the Arab flag, and were in the habit of running their human cargo into the port of Hodeidah. As British pressure was more and more brought to bear from the south, and similar Italian pressure from the north, it is easy to understand that the trade at Tajura increased greatly, particularly after that port, held for some time by a small Egyptian garrison, was finally abandoned by the Egyptian government, thus removing the slight restraint caused by the necessity of bribing the Egyptian officials. But, simultaneously with their effective occupation of the Southern Danakil coast, stern measures were taken by the French against the Sultan of Tajura and his friends, whose activities were, in consequence, gradually curtailed, and finally forced to cease altogether. The Italians experienced the greatest difficulty of all in destroying the trade as their ports were situated in the Red Sea, and nearer to the slave markets. Dhows from there ran less risk of capture than those from the French and British ports, which had to pass through the straits of Perim. But the Italians were keenly alive to this fact, and spared no efforts to stamp out the nefarious trade. In regard to the general question--the best means of suppressing slavery in this part of Africa, at the time of which I speak--the minds of the various authorities were much concerned, some advocating one course of procedure, others another. The following narrative by the commander of a British man-o'-war not only provides a vivid description of how the work was done, but throws some light on the horrors of the trade itself. It is headed "Successful capture of slaves off Moka in the Red Sea," and runs as follows:-- "On the morning of 16th September, 1888, at daylight, three dhows were sighted from the ship, steering to the northward with a fair breeze. The ship took up a position to cut them off from the shore, some five miles distant, and having closed them to about half a mile she hoisted the British flag, and fired blank charges from her guns as a signal to them to lower their sails. They paid no attention to the signals, but separating from each other tried to run past the ship and get inshore of her. It becoming evident now that they were slavers, shots were fired across their bows as a further warning, and they were hailed also to lower their sails. Their only reply was a jeering shout, as they were running very fast, and it appeared as though two at least must escape capture; but they reckoned without their host, as will be seen further on. [Illustration: A GOVERNMENT CHARTERED DHOW, ZEILA.]