James travels to Zanzibar, where he meets Said Ben Salim, a sheikh who asks him to take some Islamic pilgrims to Mecca. However, it soon transpires that these are not pilgrims but slaves and James puts them ashore in Africa, enabling them to return home. On his return to Liverpool he learns of an unusual challenge. He and Daniel Fogarty are to race each other to Foochow in China and back with a cargo of tea, the winner assuming the overall control of the Onedin Line. He is well and truly up for this, as is Daniel but Emma is less enthusiastic as the race is to start on their wedding day.
—don @ minifie-1