The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-12-22
The Circassian Slave Trade.

The Turkish slave dealers seldom bring arms to
the Caucasus or if they do, of the ornamental
kind; and powder also they bring only in small
quantities, as presents for the princes and mobiles
The Circassians are not usually willing to trade by
barter for their beauties preferrng to receive their
price in hard cash; and they do not appear to find
any difficulty in obtaining gun-powder, even from
the Cossacks on the Kuban, &c. In most instan-
ces only the daughters of slaves, or of freed men,
are sold, but even noblemen may occasionally be
induced to part with their daughters sisters for
bright piasters; and the girls themselves to whom
from their infancy the and spendor of the life
they are to lead in the Turkish harems has been
painted in glowing colors, generally leave without
much hesitation their rude mountains and unnatu-
raj parents Each vessel carries from thirty to for
Ity girls, crammed like herring in barrel; but
submit with great resignation to the suferings 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 al
ways reach their destination. During the winter,
from l943 to 1874, twenty-eight ships sailed from
the Caucasian coast and twenty-three arrived safe
with their cargoes, three having been burnt by the
Russians, and two with their fair, living freight
swallowed bv the sea- A Turkish captain in
Europe related to me-appropos of these slave
ships-the following anecdote: few years ago
one of them sprung aleak out at sea, just at the
moment when a Russian steamer was passing al
some distance. The Turkish slave dealer prefer.
ing even the air of Siberia to drowning made a
signal Of distress, and the steamer along side
| by whose assistance only the crew and passengers
could be saved from inevitable destruction. But SC
deeply rooted in the Circasslan heart is hatred to
the Russians that the blood of these girls rose al
the thought of becoming the property of despsed
Russian soldier, instead of sharing the couch of
Turkish Daaba They raised
ful cry as the vessel approached, and sprang des-
peratey into the sea, while others plunged THEN
knives into their hearts. The greater number Of
thern however, were carri d on board the steamer
whence they were transported to the Cossacks and
distributed among the Cossocks of the line.
l myself once made the passage from Trebisond
to Constantinope with dozen of these Circassiar
girls as deck passengers. They we're mostly mere
children of twelve or thirteen, very pale and thin
but with fine and interesting countenances, and
certain wild fire in their black eyes. Two only
were carefully yelled, and their figures displayed
more roundness of outline; they might be l8 or 2(
years of age; and to these the slave dealers paic
much attention. and frequently brought them cof
fee, of which the others got none. On my making
some inquiries concerning them, he informed ms
they were the daughters Of nobleman; had fine
rosy checks, and were much fatter than the rest
so that they would fech much higher price il
Stamboul than the Others For these beauties he
hoped to obtain as much 10000 piasters: of the
others he spoke with great contempt, and said he
should be glad to get sixteen guineas apiece fol
them. This Turkish slave dealer was richly dres
sed in silks and furs and in spite of his detestable
trade was man of pleasing manners He inform
ed me that since the Russian occupation of the Cir
cassian coast his business had become more diff
cult and perrilous, but far more profitable. For
broug ght to the Constantinope market, one might
get beautiful girl low 10000 piasters whilst
at present, well fed, rosy-cheeked damsel, from
Gourie or Adschara would stand one in as much
as forty thousand.
Wagner's Caucasus, 1843 and 184e