Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-12
THE CIRCASSIANS AND THE SALE OF
BEAUTIFUL SLAVE GIRLS.
TREnIzoND, Thursday, May %, 1885,


A few days ago there arrived at the quarantine
of Trebizond about two hundred Circassions with
live cargo of great variety but which they found
some difficulty in disposing of by reason of the
pecunary straits in which purchasers are just now
placed. The traders, who steady friends of
Shamyl, the Mahomet of the Caucasus, and the
bitter and determined enemies OF Nicholas, whom
in their figurative language they call the vulture
Of the SHOWS, hadfor sale forty packages of human
flesh. They were made up of dozen children
of from four to eight years old, and of thirty fe-
males ranging betwee Is and 80. The quarantine
doctor requested me to accompany him on his visit
to this strange spectacle. The Superintendent of
the Lazaretto made the merchants and their wares
stand in line, that we had an opportunity of
making thorough examination Of the parties.
The Circassians were all very fine men, large, tall
and strong. Their figure exqusitcly beau
tiful as that Of woman; their limbs were plump
and muscular their hands and feet were small :;
their complexion was warthy-produced by ex-
posure TO the mountain air-but their countenan-
ces Notwithstanding, bore the impress of gentle
ness and manly courage; their chests were full
and rounded, and their step proud as that Of a
monarch upon the stage. Their costume was very
picturesque. 1t consisted of great coat orna-
mented with lambskn and which fitted closely ;
of trousers cut after the Turkish fashion, and
made of light-colored cloth of cap Of grey felt
with band of lambskin, the wool of which was
long and curlcd. They wore red slippers without
stockings and cloak of lambskin or of felt with
which they wrapped themselves with the utmost
dignity After having visited the merchants we
approached the individuals they had for sale as
near as the guards would permit us. The little
Crcassans and the females we're ranged before
the doors eff the cells, and from their anxious air
seemed to inquire whether we were about to pur-
chase them The children were beautiful both in
form and in countenance. Yet the latter did not
exhibit that infantle grace which is observable
in Europeans They had an expression of gravity
not unmixed with care which almost made us re-
gard them little men who had already experien-
eed the trials and difficulties of life Young as
they were, they seemed as if they had already
passed through the term of their existence. Their
look was that of deep reflection, their gait was
slow and staid, their stare was piercing and in
SHuisitive, their mouth pinched and serious AL
these peculiarties filled us with much surprise
as sorrow, for they forced the conviction tina
this anxious air precociOus intellect sprang from
fear of the future from regret at being separated
from those mountain scenes around which they
had so far passed their youth. They were clad in
tatrered clothes of no particular cut color, and
wore no covering on their heads or feet. Their
food was the same that of their parents, and of
the coarsest and least substantial kind. 1t consist
ed of milet cakes and of spring water, and not
wthstanding this innutritious fare they all had
blooming checks and the appearance of health
and strength. We next proceeded to make close
exception of two young girls, all considerably ad
vanced in years and destined to become servants
or bath tenders. Their faces which had a faded
air, produced undoubtedly more by fatigue and
hardship than by age, bore an expression of pro-
found sadness and Of vague inquietude. Their
looks seemed to interrogate to our intentions
respecting them. One would suppose that they
wished to fathom our characters in order to fore
see their own destiny, and when they saw that our
visit was merely of curiosity, they cast their
eyes upon the ground and waited until they should
be allowed to withdraw. One of these females
was exceedingly beautiful She might be fifteen
or sixteen years old; the look she gave MS was
that of proud and naughty soul, but in her man.
ner there was nothing of that pensive agitation
which we had remarked in Ecr companions and
even in the little children. Her large, open and
mstrous eyes were expressive of mind that was
at once both bold and calm. She no doubt imag-
ined that her beauty would be her protection, and
that her future master could not help but feel
its influence. 1t would indeed be difficult to give
anything like an adequate description of this wo-
man. But | have seen portraits which have a
strong resemblance to her; they were, however,
the works Of great masters which then believed
to have been the creations of their fancy and not
the representations of any human being. A great
master however does not deal merely in the fanci-
full, he delineates what he sees or what he recol-
lects that he has seen. What | admired in this
young woman was not so much her exquisite pro-
portions, her q ace and her charming countenance
MS her noble and queenly attitude. Her mien was
something like that of Cleopatra; had she a dia
dem on her head one could have taken her for one
of those queens we read of in ancient history oi
had she on an oaken chaplet, she might have pas
sed for a priestess among the Druids This lovely
mountain mad who had passed her life amid the
SHOWS of the Caucasus, and whose lot it may be
to become one day the wife of Sultan, wore a
sorry garment of coarse blue CLOTH whcl was
nTlnHn Il 1 i, rA.~ -.
Turkish fashion, open in front, and exhibited to
view an under-garment very much soled, but EN-
broidered with silk of many cOlOrs. This garment
showed so well the graceful dcveopement of the
bust that you would have almost sworn that it was
pasted to her. 1t is quite clear that there must be
some superior seamstresses in the Caucasus. She
wore II white muslin vail cast back, which was
stained and torn, but so attached as to envelope
her like a vestal when she pleased. When we had
contemplated this specimen of beauty, so rare in
any country, we proceed 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 inter
rosated them, and received their answers. shall
merely give the translation of my gude
"What is the price Of this child?" said he to
one of the Circassians.
"Three thousand pastres," replied the other
A sum equal to about 600 francs.
"And what do you ask for the girl?" said the
Doctor, pointing to the individual just described.
twenty-five thousand piastres, neither more
nor less;' and seeing that the Doctor was saying
something to me in a whisper, he added THAT
is not too dear, for her entire person is as free
from defects as her face When the quarantine is
over You may make yourself sure on that head.
1t is only year ago since sold her sister, who is
not in any way her superior, and yet she brought
ne thirty-two thousand riN9tree, But ~ we are