16th April 2001

Child 'slave' ship missing

Arrest warrants: official documents signed by a court official ordering the arrest of named persons

out: here, 'out' means arrest warrants 'have been issued'

coaster: a ships that sails along the coast

should have got back: it is reasonable to expect that the boat would have returned

The longer....the greater...: One depends on the other - if the ship is not seen for a long time, the chances are very high that the captain has put in to a port

sighting: an occasion on which something is seen - sometimes only for a short time

put in: if a ships puts in, it lands (or docks) at a port

disembarked: when you disembark from a ship or plane, you leave it at the end of your journey

river ports: villages beside the river with harbours

deltas: an area of flat land where a river divides into smaller rivers before entering the sea

overland: a journey made across land rather than, here, on water

traffickers: a trafficker is a person who buys and sells goods (and in this case people) illegally

press on: if you press on, you continue doing something ins spite of difficulties