Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-05

men OF beauty, so rafe 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 understand the
language of the Turks, and it was in this
language that the doctor interrogated
them, and received their answers. / shall
merely give the translation of nv guide :
What is the price of this child" said
he to one of the Circassians.
Three thousand piastres," replied
the other. A sum equal 10 about GOO
francs. rer- .s -. - -.. d. do -,
"And what do you ask for the girl e.
said the doctor, pointing to the individu-
al just described. = 1900
Twenty-Five thousand piastres, neith-
er more nor less ;" and seeing that the
doctor was saying something to me in
whisper, be added That is not too
dear, for her entire person is as free from
defects as her face. When the quaran.
tine is over, you may make yourself sure
on that head. It is only 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" rt---
"And why have you more want Of
money now than last year 2"
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 Rus
slams from our country, and we have
nothing else to sell but our children"
The idea that these men would engage
in such traffic for the purpose of ena-
bling them to struggle against the Rus
slams, made me reflect gravely for mo-
ment. 1 looked at the doctor of the
quarantine to see if he shared NV emo
ton: but he had been SO accustomed 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 services.
But in what light was l to regard these
people Could admire those men who
carried their patriotism and love of lib.
erty to such pitch as to sell their chill.
dren +? Admiration, no doubt, felt, but
not without sentiment Of deep sorrow.
Unfortunately, however, on reflection,
came to learn that it was not since the
war began that these men have engaged
in this detestable traffic, and 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 sisters, their sons and
their brothers, but that it has been prac-
tised by them from time immemoral for
the purpose of satisfying the commonest
wants. felt a thrill of horror run
through me when looked at those obdu-
rate and heartless men, smoking and
laughing and coolly talking about the
fate of their own flesh and blood. II
wished to leave the odious scene, but the
doctor begged of me to stop and not con-
demn these men before I heard them in
justification of their conduct. He took
aside hale old man, the quick flashes of
whose eyes denoted birth, intelligence
and communicativeness. The latter be-
ing interrogated by the doctor, said that
it was from q sentiment of tenderest |
affection for their children that he and |
his countrymen were addicted to this
traffic. vas
at is no trifing sacrifice that we
make" said he Gin thus separating our
selves from our dear children; but we are
consoled by the thought that this separs-
ton will be useful to them. In the noun
famous regions where We live, our daugh. |
ters are subjected to the greatest hard |
ships. We have neither bread nor
clothing to give them. But once that |
they are sold, they become ladies-they
enter the harems of the Turks, they lead
a quiet and easy life, they feel ne want
Of clothing in the winter, and they have
always bread to eat. And those who
chance to get into the harems of the great
people have not only clothes and bread at |
their command, but also luxury, gran
deur, and power. They amuse them
selves in baths Of amber. They have
head. dresses of pearls. They have per-
fumes and music, and everything that
the tenderness and love of their masters
can procure for them. By their side our |
sons who have been received by the
Turks may become officers in the army, |
captains, cadis. pashas, and viziers. They
then bless their parents who have had
the courage and good sense to eman.
cipate them from q life of hardshps,
of struggles, and of cruel labors. And
then, when we rear them with the
intention of selling them, they know that
no happiness awaits them in their own
country, and therefore they leave it with
out regret. The Russians who wish to
enslave us under the protest that we fol- |
low an inhuman trade, are not better
than we are. The great Prince, (Shsmyl,
who knows them well, who has ivedin
their cities and studied their manners and |
their laws, has often told us of the hor-
rible deeds committed among them. We
sell our children, because the soil of our
country is unfruitful, because we cannot
afford them any other life than that of
constant labor md Of misery that cannot
be removed. Yet we have gentle man.
ners, we love each other, and we oblige
and assist each other. Among us you
will not find the knosd, neither will you
see prisoners nor executioners. The
wishes of our old men are always atten-
lively listened to and respected. And
the strangerswhe risks bis person in our
mountains is always sure Of protection