Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-12-04

immense traffi5 IN these slaves, who are |
exchanged for American goods which are
TO be found in these markets more abun- |
dantly than those of any other country.
The chief slave-hunters in these king
doms are, of course, the kings themselves.
Some Of them go out once year, others
once month, and on various pretences,
thoug h many avow openly the purposes
Of their expedition. Formerly, when
the rulers were MoslemS, and the people
idoators, religious cry covered the
shame of the kidnapper, but the whole
population became Mohammedan, and
then the faithful hunted the faithful AS
savagely as they had before hunted the
Kaffirs or infdels Their common plan
is this : A chief foments a quarrel with
some affair of taxation, and then, to vim
dicate his rights, marches forth and cap
lures all the inhabitants. In order TO
enjoy this privilege, he pays tribute to
the great Sheik, or Lord of Bournou
4 regular razzia, or slave-hunt in the
Sahara, is perhaps the most extraordina-
ry Of all the operations invented by man
to obtain wealth. For sometime before,
there is generally rumor in the city
that this event 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. Mean
while, small parties are sent out from
time to time to steal Il family or two,'
in order to be exchanged for certain nuts
which the sarkee is pleased to like
Then, perhaps a boy pliers a little fruit.
Public justice must be vindicated 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 razzia is completed. A thousand
:laves are required-so many to be sent
to the sheik, SO many TO be distributed
among the inferior traders, and so many
to be kept by tie sarkee. IF Il commoa
man catches five. three helnng tn him
and two to his feudal master; if lie kid
maps two, each has one for his share
Thus thewhole populace has an Interest
in the result of the expedition and al
join with hope and glee to chase tin
peaceful villagers of the contiguous coun
try and bring them home desolate il
chains. Five thousand cavalry an
thirty thousand bowmen assemble on
> plain near the city the drums of Zinde
beat; the people shout; gaudy flag
and emblems stream in the sun an
/ away goes the cavalcade with as muc
pride and pomp as Napoleon's Legion
: winding along the heights to conquer {
. Marengo.
: After three or four hours ride, the
: usually encamp, and a market is opene
: for traffic in provisions. Since no wome
y accompany the razzia, the men cook an
|, do all the work The first advance
Al often made in a direction contrary 10 tn
h actually proposed to be taken-for ii
r route of the expedition is kept pr
le found secret, so that an unsuSpecting p
pulation may be taken by surprise. /
4 night the leader calls his chosen troo
r around him, distributes nuts among thel
le indicates Il part Of his plan, and orde
il the hour and the line Of the next marc
Is, This is made at midnight, or as soon
Il the moon rises, when the whole bla
i'd army is again in motion, draggring
he huge length through date groves a
Is stubble fields, and valleys and hills,
Sc ward some devoted town destined |
. the first plunder. The chief takes ca
b. not to expose himself, but marches vi
Isl a body-guard, which surrounds him wi:
a a battle goes on. These warriors z
tie covered with Notwithstanding to prot
N them against arrows and spears VIII
es, a number Of generals direct the alta,
in, and the archers and shield-bearers pr
he forward to capture or die.
Ire After several days journey, the arr
reaches a country where slaves {
res caught, and disperses itself to the sew
il al cities and villages. Sometimes
.tpeople defend themselves heroicalIy W
en- their bows and arrows flying to the su
.at, mits of rocks and selling their libe
are dearly. Often, however, they are S
ise prised while they are preparing til
the meals, or dancing, or celebratinga a bri
ON feast /; and then the enemy rush in, Sc
Ter, them, chain, and bear them uresistin
lse away. IF the hamlet be girt with sto
AIDES, garrison of expert, archers I
in occasionally drive back the forlorn
r ~. -.