Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-07-17
APrIvate slave Mart nt Berbe,

African Cor. of the N. \. Herald.J
Being anxious TO see. Berber domes
tically, just as it is, ! caused it to be re
ported that / wished to buy female
slave. There were no public markets
so / became acquainted with Syrian
merchant, who had been one month a
resident of Berber. ~
=" OF courseI can sell you a slave,
said he in French.
Where are they2"
The merchant was seated in his store,
the most elegant IN town, drinking a
sherbet and smoking q chibook. He
rose to accompany me. The counter
loafers had in the meantime gathered
from all the other shops in the bazaar,
and had una voce opened a fire of com.
plants against the government. ! lis
tened patiently to the story of their
woes-oppressive taxation, police re-
straints, high interests, no money, fiat
trade-with only that Importance which
q person can assume who has no real
power TO redress a grievous wrong. ,
told them Significantly that / would re.
fest upon their petitions. Conscious OF
being mighty in their midst-rather in
the midst Of their imaginations-I j
passed out of the shop defilng by their
reyerential salaams. Probably not one
man in the knot knew where America
was. The merchant, who was a sleek
Syrian, arrogating to himself the nation
ality Of Greek for the purpose of an
ephemeral respectability, then conducted
me few rods distant, down a narrow
lane, knocked at a tumble-down gate,
and we walked into the midst of his
harem. t.fotf
1t was the first time | had ever beheld
human beings Of the harem for sale. The
first object / saw was a monkey, in whose
face detected strayed shadow of sad
ness. Chained near. him was a beauti-
full gazelle, which we afterwards bought
for the sum Of two dollars. An Ekhnin
dog-which afterwards cut his incisors
on the leg Of Mr.. Morris-a large, shag.
gy, ferocious beast, was entertaining the
harem by his hideous yells. This vas
portion OF the scenery in a double
court of mud palace in the city of Ber-
Der, at two O. clock in the afternoon.
What kind of a slave do you want9'
asked the merchant.
That depends" " -n1rNahgv
But a male or femalef'F 80
" A female replied promptly, wish
ing to see the merchandise.
While this colloquy was proceeding we
neared the second court, and there saw
a handsome, dark-haired, lovely woman
Of about twenty, surrounded by four
coalblack negresses. N NA
What is your price for this oneG |
said, pointing TO the beauty. iFf 7
She2 That's my wife.
After making the due Oriental apollo
gies for my contretemps, 1 was presented
to the madame. She was an Egyptian,
but ignored the veil, rather liking, than
otherwise, to expose her face TO the ad-
miring gaze of men. The merchant and
his lady then called out the slaves to be
inspected. But they we're timid. and
had scattered in all directions. standing
with their faces TO the wall. They would
not come. Finally the madame per-
suaded the youngest, a small thirteen
year-old Abyssinian, to present herself
She was covered with but a single gar
ment. She was directed to denude herself
of this; but instantly inteFposed, not
wishing to allow even my reportorial Gu
riosity to insult the ehild's purity Of per
son. -a
How much for her?r
-Four hundred frsncsi' --l
{ That's too hight" (temporiziqEl
T fIllshowyonaHOihsriP- -randwith this
4 second was led out by the madame
No 2 vas a hriuhf nraffv Ahvarir;an