The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-12-06
THE ciRCAssIAN SLAVE TRADE.


THE CiRCASSIAN SLAVE TRADE.
The Turkish slave dealers seldom bring arms
to the Caucasus or if they do, merely Of the
namenal kind; and powder also they bring only
in small quantities, as presents Tor the princes
and mobiles The Crcdssians are not usually
willing TO trade by barter for their beauties, pre-
terring TO receive their price in hard cash; and
| they do not appear TO find any difficulty in OBJ
| tanning gun powder, even from the Cossacks on
! the Kuban, sc. In most instances only the
daughters Of slaves, or OF freed men, sold, but
even noblemen may occasionally be induced to
part with their daughters sisters for bright pi-
asters and the girls themselves, TO whom from
their infancy the ease and splendor OF the lite
they are to lead in the Turkish harems has been
painted in glowing colors, generally leave with
out much hesitation their rude mountains and I'M
natural parents Each vessel carries from thirty
TO forty girls, crammed like herring in barrel;
but they submit with great resignation to the sui
ferings OF the voyage, soon to be exhausted for
the joy OF the magnificent city OF the Sultan.
1t is calculated that out OF six slave ships five
always reach their destination. During the win
ter, from lS4S 10 1874, twenty eight ships sailed
from the Caucasian coast, and twenty-three ar
rived sale with their cargoes, three having been
burnt by the Russians, and two with their lair
living freight, swallowed by the sea. A Turk
ish sea captain in Europe related TO me-appro-
pos of these slave ships the following anecdotes:
A lew years ago one OF them sprung aleak out at
sea, just at the moment when a Russian steamer
was passing at some distance. The Turkish
slave dealer, preterring the air OF Siberia TO
drowning, made a signal of distress, and the
steamer came along side, by whose assistance
only the crew and passengers could be saved
IRON inevitable destruction. But so deeply root
ed IN the Circassian heart is hatred to the Rus
slans, that the blood OF these girls rose at the
thought OF becoming the property Of a desplsed
Russian soldier, instead OF sharing the couch of
magnificent Turkish Pacha. They raised
lnournful cry the vessel approached, and
sprang desperately into the sea, while others
plunged their knives into their hearts. The
greater number of them, however, were carried
on board the steamer, and taken to Anapa,
whence they were transported to the Cossacks,
and distributed among the Cossacks OF the line.
| myself once made the passage from Trebi
sond to Consantinople with dozen oil these
Clrcassian girls, as deck passengers. They
were mostly mere children OF twelve or thirteen,
very pale and thin, but with fine and inter esling
countenances, and certain wild FIRE in their
black eyes. Two only were carefully yelled
and their figures displayed more roundness oil
outline; they might be eighteen or twenty years
of age; aud to these the slave dealers paid much
attention, and frequently brought them coffee oil
which the others got none. On my making
f some inquiry concerning them, he informed me
they were the daughters OF a nobleman; had fine
rosy cheeks, and were much fatter than the rest
so that they would fetch much higher price in
Stamboul than the others. For these beauties he
hoped to obtain as much as 10000 piasters oil
the others he spoke with great contempt, and
said he should be glad to get sixteen guinea:
apiece for them This Turkish slave dealer was
richly Aed in silks and furs, and in spite Of
e his detWBle trade was a man OF pleasing man.
ners He informed me that since the Russian
occupation OF the Circassian coast, his occupation
had become more difficult aud penlous, but ia,
more profitable. Formerly, when Greek and
Armenian women were brought to the Consan.
: tinople market, one might get beautiful girl as
low as ten thousand pasters, whilst at present,
: we'll fed, rosy checked damsel from Gourie OF
Adschara would stand one in as much as forty
thousand Wagaei's Caucasus, Is % and 1916