Butte record., 1854-09-16

a sorry garment of coarse blue cloth,
which was faded and much stained. 1t
was made after the Turkish fashion,
open in front, and exhibited to view an
under garment very much soiled, but
embroidered with silk of many colors
This garment showed SO well the grace
ful developement OF the bust, that you
would have almost sworn that it was
pasted to her.
When we had contemplated this spec
linen of beauty, so rare in any country,
we proceeded to inspect the men, who
were the fathers or uncles Of females
and children for sale The greater part
of the Circassians speak and under
stand the language of the Turks, and It
was in this language that the doctor in
terrogated them, and received their an
swers. | shall merely give the transla-
ton of my guide
"What is the price of this child -
said he to one Of the Crca>sians.
Three thousand piastres," replied
the other. A sum equal to about coo
francs.
"And what do you ask for the girl 2"
said the doctor, pointing to the one just
described
Twenty-Five thousand piastres,
neither more nor less - and seeing
that the doctor was saying son ething TO
me in whisper, he added g That is
not too dear, ior her entire person is as
free from defects as her face. When
! the quarentine is over, You may nuke
yourself sure on that h ad. Il is crly
year since / sold her sister, who is
not in any way her superior, and yet
she brought me thirty-two thousand
piastres But as we are at present in
greater want of money than we usually
are, we shall lower the price to get
away the sooner"
"And why have you more want of
money now than last year -
C Because we want to buy muskets,
and powder and balls"
What And is it for the purpose
Of buying arms and ammunition that you
are going to sell your children ~
" Certainly; we wish to drive the
Russians from our country, and We
have nothing else to sell but our chill
dren"
The idea that these men would en-
gage in such trafc for the purpose of
enabling them to struggle against the
Russians, made me reflect grayely for a
moment | looked at the doctor of the
quarantine to see if he shared my emo
ton, but he had been so accus toned to
these scenes that the present one made
little or no impression on him, and he
now confined his attention to whether
there were any individuals among the
lot who required his professional servi-
ces. But in what light was to regard
these people, Could | admire those
men who carried their patriotism and
love Of liberty to such pitch as to sell
their children Admiration, no doubt,
l felt, but not without a sentiment OF
deep sorrow.
Unfortunately, however, on reflection
| came to learn that it was not since
the war began that these men have en-
gagged in this detestable trafc, and that
it was not merely for the purpose of
buying arms, with noble and heroic
intention, that they were in the habit Of
selling their daughters, their sons, and
their brothers, but that it has been
piactised by them from time immemo-
rial, for the purpose of satisfying the
commonest wants. [ felt thrill of
horror run through me when | looked
at those obdurate and heartless men,
moking and laughing and coolly talk
ing about the fate of Their own flesh and
blood. | wished to leave the odious
scene, but the doctor begged OF me to
stop and not condemn these men before
[ heard them in justiticatior. of their
conduct. He took aside a hale old man,
the quick flashing of whose eye denot-
ed birth, intelligence and communlca-
tiveness. The latter being interrogated
by the doctor, said that it was from
sentiment of tenderest affection for their
children that he and his countrymen
were addicted to this traffic.
1t is no !rifing sacrifice that we
make" said he, " in thus separating
ourselves from our dear children but
we are consoled by the thought that
this separation Will be useful to them.