Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-10-27

Vh'e the women are valued according 10 tb,
''ze and shape Of their bnsoms. The hest o.
hem GO to the city of N,ffee, TO be there shin
oed Tor America. There is an immense traffic
IN these slaves, who are exchanged for American
goods, which are to be found in these markets
more abundsntly than of any other country. The
chief slave-hunters in these kingdoms are. of
course, the kings themselves. Some of them
90 ont once year, others once month, and on
virions pretences, though many avow openly the
purposes Of their expedition. Formerly, when
the rules were Moslems. and the people idolo-
teis, religious cry moved the shame of the kid
napper, but the whole population became Mo
hammedan. and then the faithful hunted the faith.
ful as savagely as they had before hunted tho
Kaffirs or ln6dels! Their common plan is this
chief tomeDts quarrel with some town or
village, within his territories, upon some affair
Of taxation, and them, TO vhdicate his nights, I,
marches forth and captures all the inhabitants.
In order to enjoy Ibis privilege, he pays tribute
to the Great Shekh, or Lord of Buurnou.
The regular razz'a. or slave. hunt in the Sahara,
Is perhaps The mos, extraordinary of all the ope.
ratiOns invented by man to obtain wealth For
some time before, there ia geuerally rumor in
the city that this even, Is to take place, and
great Is the excitement in the bordering coun.
tries until it is known in which direction the
sarkee or governor will march. This village is
now named, and now that but mystery usi-
ally prevails till within few days of the start
Meanwhile, small parties are sent ont from time
to time 10 GteaI a family or two" IN order to be
exchanged for certain nuts which the sorkee 10
pleased to like. Then, perhaps boy pliers
little fruit. Public justice must be vlndicated !
He is sold IN the bazaar, and not only he, but
his father, mother and sisters, and perhaps the
whole circle Of his relations, the money being
Appropriated BY the chief.
Gradually, however, the plan of the great raz
zia is completed. A thousand slaves are reqnir
ed-so many to be sent to the sheikh so many
TO be distributed among the inferior traders, and
so many 10 be kept by the ssrkee. IF common
man catches five, three belong to him, and two
TO his feula master; it he kidnapps two, each
has one tor his share Thus the whole popuace
has an interest in the result of the expedition
and all JON with hope and glee to chase the
peaceful villagers of the contiguous country, and
bring them home desolate in chains. Five
thousand cavalry and thirty thousand bowmen
assemble on plain near the city the drums of
Finder beat the people shout gaudy flags and
emble2s stream in the sun; and away goes he
tine cavalcade with as much pomp and pride as
Nnpoleon's Iegions winding along III. heights to
conquer Mareneo.
After three or four hours ride. they usually
encamp ana market is opened for traffic IN
prtvisi"ns. SIfce no women ACCOMPANY The
razzIa, the men couk and do all the work The
first advance Is often made in direction con-
trary to that actually proposed to be taken-for
the route of the exppdninn is kept q ,rofound
secret, go that an unsuspectlng population may
be taken by surprise. AT night. the leader calls
his chosen troops around him, distributes nuts
among them, indicates part Of his plan, and
orders the hour and line of the next march. This
is made at midnight, or as soon as The moon
rises, wher the whole black army is again in
motion. dragging Its huge length through date
groves and stuhble-felds, ard valleys and hills,
toward some devo'ed town destined for the first
plunder. The chief takes care not to expose
himself but marches with body. .guard, which
surrounds him while battle goes on. These
warriors are covered matlrass stuffing to protect
them against arrows and spears; while num-
Der of generals direct the attack and the ar.
chers and the shlcd.Dearers press forward to
capture or die
After several days. journey, the army reaches
a country where slaves may be caught, and dis
perses Itself to the several cities and villages
Sometimes The people defend themselves heroic
ally with their bows and arrows flying to the
summi's of the rocks. and selling their liberty
dearly. Often. however they are surprised while
they are preparing their meals, or dancing, OF
celeb rating bridal feast and then the enemy
rush in, seize them, chain them, and bear them
unresisirgly away. II the hamlet be grt with
s'ockades, garrison Of expert archers may oc-
caslunally drive back the forlorn hope OF the
slsve-hunters, but second assault is victorious
and the dwellings are lett level with the earth
The hut-doors Hre violently broken open; the in
side is ransacked the milk bowls and caIabash
es are taksn with the bows, arrows and axes
and the ruin is nrxl unrooied set on fire. while
the cattle. the sheep and the goats, are swep
out Of every field, to swell The general booty.
Meanwhile, in Ziuder, the Inhabitants await
eagerly the the return Of the hunters. These are
sent out TO different elevations near the CITY. I,
watch for the shadow ane dust of the homewarc
marching army. At length, after an absence
more or less prolonged cry IS heard, The
sarkee is comingw All the population lhrongs
out to learn the truth. II he is not himself within
sight, the fruits of his achlevem nts are visible,
A single horseman PAGES along, showing the
way to miserable tram of new made sla, es
Here comes group of little boys. naked, fear
less, playing about as though it were holiday
then sting Of mothers droggng themseIye.
along, with babes at their breasts then girls o
various ages, some scarcely bloomed out o
childhood others rlpened 10 maturity; then al
Richardson describes IN his wonderfully striking
narrative, old men bent two-double, with III,
weight of many years, their trembling chin
dropping towards the ground, "their poor oil
heads covered with white wool;" next com
aged women, tot,ering and helping themselve
along with slaves, and after them stout youths
chained neck and neck together, who are hud
died through the gateways, never to pass then
in bonds.
"