Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-03-21
ALGERINE SLAVERY.
Extract from Signor Panant's Narrative Of a
Residence in Algiers.
community.

" No sooner is any one declared
slave, than he is instantly stripped of his
clothes, and covered with a species OF
sack cloth he is also generally left
without shoes or stockings, and often
obliged to work bare headed, in the
scorchng rays Of an African sun. Many
suffer their beard to grow as a sign oil
mourning and desolation, while their
general state OF filth is not to be con-
ceiyed. Some of these wretched beings
are destined to make ropes and sails tor
the squadron: these are constantly SUI
pcrintended by keepers who carry whips,
and frequently extort money from their
victims, as the price of somewhat less
rigor in the execution OF their duty
others belong to the dcy's household;
and many are employed by the rich
Moors, who may have bought them al
market, in the lowest drudgery OF do
mestic employment. Some, like the
beasts OF burden, are employed in car
rying stones and wood for any public
buildings that may be going on these
are usually III chains, and justly consi-
dered the worst among their oppressed
brethren. What perpetuity OF terrors,
series of anguish, and monotonous days
must there be Without bed to lie Oh,
raiment to cover them, or food TO sup
port nature Two black cakes, thrown
down, as if intended for dogs, are their
principal daily sustenance, and had it
not been for the charity of rich Moor,
who lett legacy for that purpose, Fri
day, the only day they are exempted
from work, would have seen them with
out any allowance whatever. Shut up
at night in the prison, like SO many
malefactors, they are obliged to sleep in
the open corridor, exposed 10 all the
inclemency ofthe seasons. In the coun-
try they are frequently forced to lie in
the open air; or, like the Troglodites OF
old, shelter themselves in cavcrns.--
Awoke at daylight, they are sent to
work with the most abusive threats, and,
thus employed, become shortly exhaust
ed under the weight and severity Of
their keepers whips. Those destined
to sink wells, aud clear sewers, are for
whole weeks obliged TO be up to their
middle il water, rcspiring a mephitic at
mosphere: others employed in quar-
ries, are threatened with constant de-
struction, which often comes TO their
relief. Some attached to the harness in
which beasts Of the field are also yolled,
are obliged to dlaw nearly all the load,
e. l.
than their favored companion, the ass,
or mule. Some are crushed under the
falling Of buildings, whilst others perish
in the pits into which they are sent to be
got rid of, 1t is usual for one and two
hundred slaves to drop OFF, in the year,
for want of food, medical attendance,
and other necessaries; and wo TO those
who remain, if they attempt to heave
sigh, or complain, in the hearing oftheir
memorable master. The slightest Of
fence or indiscretion is punished with
two hundred blows on the solcs of the
feet, or over the back and resistance
to this shocking treatment is often pun
ished with death,
"When in marching, poor slave is
exhausted by sickness, fatigue, and the
cruelty of his usage, he is inhumanly
abandoned on tie high road, to be insulted
by the natives, and trod under foot by the
passengers. They frequently return from
the mountains, with the blood trickling
from their limbs, which are, with their
whole body, covered with scars and
bruises. One evening towards dusk, |
was called to by hoarse voice; on
drawing nearer, beheld an unhappy
being stretched on the ground, foaming
at the mouth, and with the blood burst
ing from his nose and eyes. had
scarcely stopped, struck with horror and
apprehension, when, in faint voice, the
word Christian Christian = was repeat
ed. For heavens sake have pity Oh my
suiferings, and terminate an existence
which l can no longer support 'Hho
are you ? was my reply. | am slave,
said the poor creature, Sand we are all
badly treated. An Oldak Of the militia,
who was passing this way, and happened
to be near me at the time, exclaimed, in
an angry tone, Dog Of a Christian, how
dare you stop the road, when one Of the
faithful passes ? This was followed by
a blow and kick, which threw me
down height of several feet, and has
left me in this condition.
Son another occasion, the situation
of a still more unfortunate slave was
equally calculated to excite my indigna-
ton and sympathy. He was sorrowiully
seated under an old wall at his feet there
10 load ,,S5.,, ,,l:l /