The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-17

| went 10 visit the slave markets, one OF
which is held without the city, in the court
yard OF deserted mosque. Twas received
by mild looking Nubian, with large
white turban wreathed over his swarthy
brows, and a barnoose, or cloak, Of white
and brown striped hair-clolh. strapped
round his loins. He rose and laid down
his pipe as entered, and led me in silence
to inspect his stock. found about thirty
girls scattered in groups about an inner
court. The gate was open, but there
seemed no thought OF escape. Where
could they go, poor things! "The world
was not their friend, or the worlds law"
Some Of them were grinding millet between
two stones; some were kneading the flour
into bread; some were chatting in the
sunshine; some sleeping in the shade
One Or two looked sad and lonely enough,
until their gloomy countenances were light
ed up with hope-the hope Of being bought
Their faces were, for the most part, wofully
blank; not with the blankness Of pleasure,
but Of intelligence; and many wore an
awfully animal expression. Yet there were
several figures OF exquisite symmetry among
them, which, had they been indeed the
bronze statues they resembled, would have
attracted the admiration of thousands, and
would have been valued at twenty times the
price that was set upon these immortal
beings. Their proprietor showed them of
as horse-dealer does his cattle, examining
their teeth, removing their body-clothes
and exhibiting their PAGES. He asked only
from twenty-five to thirty pounds sterling
for the best and comeliest Of them. Tn,
, Abyssinians are the most priced of tn
, African slaves, from their superior gentle
ness and intelligence; those Of the Gall
| country are the most numerous and hardy
The former have well-shaped heads, beau
, tiful eyes, an agreeable brown color, an
5 shining smooth black tresses. The latte
have low foreheads, crisp hair, sooty con
!. plexions, thick lips, and projecting Jaws.
Y 1t is like the change from night to moTI
a ing to pass from those dingy crowds to ii
$ white slaves from Georgia and Circassil
!. 1t is not without considerable difficulty thi
e admission is obtained into this departmel
o of the human bazaars, as its commoditi,
e are only purchased by wealthy and pov
eiful Mosems and, when purchased, al
e destined to form part Of the female aristo
II racy Of Cairo.
Il These fetch from one, two, three,
e even five hundred pounds, and. being
IS much more valuable than the Africans, a
II much more carefully tended They I
% clined upon carpets, richly but lightly ella
le Some were smoking; some chatting me
rily together; some sitting in a dream
,e languor. All their attitudes were We
,e graceful, as seems necessarily the case whit
re welcomed women are left to themselve
se and grouped upon the floor.
ID They were, for the most part, exquisit
is ly fair; but | was disappointed in the
ID beauty. The sunny hair and heaven-bl
e eyes, that in England produce such
e. angel.like and Intellectual effect, seemed
he me here mere flax and beads; and Il
them to the 'tWbaned Turk" without
<. sgh-except, perhaps very little one,
e. those far away in mine own land, who
Is image they served, however family, to
s. call.-Ihe Crescent d. the Cross