The Nevada Democrat., 1856-08-27

THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE BLACK SEA.-lf any
credit may be placed in the statements of the
Russian generals the slave trade between Cir
cassia and Turkey has almost ceased But such
is not really the case, and obtained correct
account of the real state of the case from well
informed men during my last residence at Ire
bizond. The trade with Circassian girls is still
carried on as extensively as before, only it re-
quires more crcumspection, and is confined to
the stormy Winter months, lasting from Octo-
Der to March, during which the Russian cruisers
remove from the havenless coast. The specta-
tor is filed with astonishment on viewing at
Samsoun and Sinope the small fragile barks in
which the Turkish slave dealers venture on their
adventurous voyages during this most perilous
season. These slavers commonly furnish them
selves with charter from the Russian Consul
for Kertch under pretext of shipping car
go of corn at that place. and they are protected
by this document if they fall into the hands of
the Russian men-of-War on the passage, or if
they are cast away on the coast in the vicinity
of the Russian fortresses. Unless they were
provided with these charters, they would be
treated as slave traders by the Russian cruisers,
and even transported to Siberia. The vessels
they employ are so small that if the sea is at
all calm and the shore fiat, they can be drawn
up on land 1t is commonly assumed that these
Turkish ships supply the CTcassians with anu
milton, but this is a mistake
The Turkish slave traders very seldom bring
any arms to the Caucasus and these consist
commonly of ornamental arms as presents for
the chief; nor do they bring much powder, and
only present to the princes and knights. The
Circassians will not engage in barter, and only
hand over their beauties for Turkish harems
against good bright silver The tribes of the
Caucasus are not deficient in their firearms as
well as knschals and schaschkas (sWords) and
they find opportunities of buying powder and
lead on all hands, even from Cossacks on the
Kouban. 1t commonly takes a couple Of weeks
for the slave traders to complete their arrange
ments with the Circassans; the kOnak answers
the purpose of mediator. 1t is generally only
the daughters of pschilt (saves) and tschofok-
otis Ureed men) who are sold to the Turks
rarely does a work (nobleman) resolve to eX-
change his sons and daughters for shining pias-
ters; yet this sometimes happens. The girls
commonly leave their rugged mountains and in
human parents without much regret because
they have been carefully prepared for this for
cible separation, by the splendid picture that
their relatives give Of the enjoyments and mag
nificence Of a Turkish harem.
Each vessel carries a full cargo of 80 or 40
girls, who are packed close together like her
rings in a tub and submit with resignation to
the distress of a sea voyage, which they hope
soon to exchange for the delights of the city of
the Sultan. The captains are well versed in all
the characteristics of the Black Sea. Once or
twice a month in winter a fresh wind blows
down from the Caucasus, lasting generally sew
eral days consecutively. The Turkish captains
make use of this wind to get off as rapidly as
possible with their living cargo. They com
monty transport the girls to Riseh, or to Sinope
and Samsoun, but never direct to Trebizond,
for the Russian consul there, NJ. de Gersi, keeps
a tolerably vigilant eye on the shipping; and
though he may secretly cOnnive at the trade, he
will not suffer it to be carried on too boldly be-
fore his face. 1t is computed that, on the aver
age, five out of six vessels accomplish their miss
sion 1t is repored that during the-winter from
l843 to 1874, 28 vessels undertook expeditions
to the Circassian coast. Out ofthis number %
returned without loss or hinderance, three were
burned by Russians, and two foundered at sea
with their cargo of beauty.-[Travels in Per
sia, &C., from the German of DR.. NORTH Wag-
ner.