Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-09-05


bid thatl should defend il. Attic same
time, the pretty creatures seem so con.
tent, that ] cannot pity them. Perhaps
should follow the example Of most
writers, who, whenever they touch by
chance on such subject, give vent to
a deal of .ntimentahsm and vaporing,
/ about weeping innocence, and disaev-
elIei locks, and torn garments, and
beaten breasts. Such exists only in
Imagination, and believe that many
who describethe slave markets in such
moving terms never saw one. Occa-
sionally, will not deny, heart rending
scenes occur, in the case of captives OF
war, or victims of revolt, wrenched
suddenly from all that is dear; but these
are rare occurrences.
The Circassians and Georgians, who
form tive trade supply, are only victims
of custom, willing victims, - being
brought up by their mercenary parents
for the merchants. Ii born Mahomme.
dan, they remain so; if born Christian,
they are educated in no faith, in order
that they may conform, when purchas-
ed, to the Mussulman faith, and, there
fore, they suffer no sacrifices on that
score. They live secluded life, harsh.
ly treated by their relations, never see-
ing strangers face, and therefore
form no ties of friendship or love, pre-
serve no pleasing recollections of home
to make them regret their country
Their destination is constantly before
their eyes painted in glowing colors;
and, SO far from dreading it, they look
for the moment Of going to Anapa or
, Porti, whence they are shipped for
Stamboul, with as much eagerness as a
parloar. boarder oil French or Italian
convent for her emancipation. In the
market they are lodged in separate a
partments, carefully secluded, where,
| in the hours OF buslness--betwee nine
and twclve--they may be visited by as.
pirants for possessing such delicate
ware. | need not draw veil over
what follows. Dccorum prevails. The
waltz allows nearly as much liberty
before hun lreds of eyes. OF course
the merchant gives his warranty, on
which, and the preceding data, the bar.
gain is closed. The common price of
tolerable looking maid is about fl00.
Some fetch hundreds, the value depend
ing as much on accomplishments as
on beauty; but such are generally sin
gl.d out by the Kislar Aga. A coars-
er article from Nubia and Ayssinia, is
exposed publicly on platforms, beneath
verandahs, before the cribs of the white
china. A more white toothed, plump.
checked, merry.eyed set ] seldom wit
ssed, with smile and gibe for e.
very ,ne, and often an audible "Buy
me-" They are sold easily and with
out much trouble. Ladies are the usu-
al purchasers, for domcstics. A slight
inspection suffices. The girl gets up
off the ground, gathers her coarse cloth
round her loins, bids her companions
adicu, AMI trips gally, barefooted and
bareheaded, after her new mistress,
who Immediately dresses her la
Turque, and hides her ebony with white
wells. The price Of one is about fl6.
Males arc sold in different place.
always young. Boys fetch a much
higher price than girls, for evident rea-
sons: in the east, unhappily, they are
also subservient to pleasure, and when
grown up are farther useful in many |
ways; if clever, may arrive at high en-
ployments;- whereas woman is only a
toy with Orientals, and, like toy, when
discarded, useful.
Sour fths Of the ministers Of the present Sui
| tan were purchased slaves, How many OF tn
| Pashas who rule the provinces, sprung from III
! sam. origin [ cannot say: probably or q. mum.