Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-03-09

and Mangles, have recently issued ID Lon
don. a journal of Travels in Nubia, Syria,
dc. performed a few. years ago. The
,obioined passage OF their journal furnish
-. a striking and affecting illustration
of the dreadful treatment experienced by
the female sex under the Mahometan sys.
tenn Of reiigioa and manners.
"At Hamsh,, on our way TO Palmyra.
we witnessed melancholy scene the few
lass day. we were here, there arrived one
evening four shabby looking, Ill dressed
Turks, attired somewhat Ike soioiers'
and IN eldery knave, better clad, though
no better looking than the others. these
people brought with them eleven Georgf.
an girls. the remnant OF between forty anu
f,ty. as we were informed, whom they
had stolen or kidnapped from their parents
on the confines OF Georgia; they were
br,usbt 10 be sold as slaves or mistresses
to such wealthy Turks as could afford to
hid high sums tor such unfortunate victims.
These poor girls were lodged 10 the cells
contiguous 10 ours: they we're mostly be-
tween fifteen aud twenty ears OF ace
were younger, being about i've I've. They
were all exceedingly pretty, with black
sparkling eyes. rosy cheeks, long black
hair, aud very fair complexion, giving a
yery strong contradiction to The account
which Volney writes OF the Georgian and
Circasian women, where he says, that
their tame for beauty arises more from the
fancy of travellers, heightened by the Diff
ficuliy they have always found to get sight
Of them Than from any real merit they pos
sess in this respect The prices which
were demanded and offered for these girls
IS the best proof Of the estimation in which
they were held by the Turks, especially
when it is known that these people are
allowed a plurality of wives. We were
present at the bidding for one girl BY
rich Turk, when tourisen purses, each
purse being FIVE hundred piastres 1871
were demanded, and although he offe ed
ten, they would not abate one para; the
poor girl, who was abou:al5, standing up
all The while. and bearing the disputes a.
bout her purchase.
"They were all taken ost four different
times, and conducted through the town 10
the rich Turkish houses to be viewed and
bid for, the same as any other merchsn.
die; and on two occasions considerable
parties Of the principal inhabitants came
10 our khan, and examined and BID tor
the unhappy creatures at the door OF their
cells, they being obliged TO stand up in
row, while their several merits were dis.
cussed by their rival bidders. We saw Sc.
veral candidates for. purchasing. OF up
wards of fifty years Of age, while the
friendless object OF his choice was only
fifteen.
"The diet OF these poor unfortunates,
considering their sex, was OF . character
with the rest OF their treatment, consisting
only of loaf Of bread and small piece
of cheese twice day; and although we
we're buying oranges at only two psras Ia
half penny each, we never saw one a.
monest them all. Whenever the owners
veot abroad, they locked their charge up
in their cells and carried away the key
Being returned from one OF their tours
through the town, we heard some bitter
lamenting in the cell next to ours. and
found that it proceeded from one OF the
Young girls being about to be sold, and
consequently separated from her sister and
companions. The mode Of conducting
these girls from town TO town is on horse.
back: and in this manner they had been
brought from Georgia, being exposed for
sale at all the principa, towns as they
came along; they we're now destined ioI
Damascus, where it was thought goOd
mart would be found for them; they set
out on their melancholy journey ,w" days
before we did. Bruce has given some &C.
count Of the Georgian and ClTcassian wo.
men which you can read and compare
with this. | think in this instance he
comes much nearer the truth than Vol
ney." ~
,CURRACOA PAPERS.
We have Curacao papers to The 3lst OF
January inclusive. Their contents, Tor
the most part, are not interesting as The
news from the Colombian Republic has
mostly been anticipated. Accounts from
from the Liberator. Bolivar, at Lima, are
TO the s5th If September. They bad been
much confusion among the patriots, and a
revolution in the government; but Bolivar
had done much 10 sllay the turbulence OF
faction, and il was confidently believed
he would restore good order and harmony.
The royalists were yet in some force ID
the interior, though there were rumors OF
some partial success against them, which
If true, il would compel Can,erac 10 iol.
low the example Of Morales. The Peru.
Wan Congress has con6ded the salvation
OF its republic to the Libera,or, with all
the unlimited faculties which must neces-
sarily be exercised, 10 order 10 fulfil this
important and glorious trust. The Liberia.
tor on presenting himself 10 the hall Of
congress, amidst millions OF acciamalions
of 10Y, confidence and gratitude, pledged
himself to make the greatest efforts to re-
slize the wishes OF bis heart and congress.
This body assigned him 81, 900 dollars sa.
larry during bis continuance in Peru; De.
creeing at the same time the payment
thereof in preference to every other claim
but the magusnimoas Bolivar mocestly re.
S,,ssd this provision. stating that be was