The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-12
ARAB SLAVERY.
America and England to Combine for
Its Suppression.
A United States War-Ship to Notify the
Imaum Of Muscat.
GENERAL FEATURES OF TEE TRAFFIC

mis- treaty with Great Britain for the suppression or
the slave trade-allowing, however his subjects TO
continue TO import slaves 10 be employed as
house servants-nas been SO grossly abused that
the British government desired TO put an end 10 inc
treaty. so that Inc cover which IL has afforded Tor
keeping up the trafic on the eastern COAST Oh Al
rica mlght be removed The cooperation Oh THIS
government was asked IN the matter, but as no
definite plan was suggested Tor that pur-
bose it was for the present declln-
ed At a subsequent Visit the British
minister informed secretary Fish that he had COM
municaled with his government and had been noti-
fen maj the cancellation OF the whole treaty was
no, desired, but merely so much OF 1t as reserved
the right 10 transport domestic slaves by sea,
within certain limits OF their own territory.
The President, alter considering the proposition,
agreed TO cooperate as far as practicable, aud
the British Minister has been informed that the
commander oil the first man-of-war OF the United
States which should visit Zanzibar or Muscat would
be ordered TO intimate TO the sovereign OF that
country that the United states would be glad to see
that the treaty wla England be cancelled as there
was reason 10 beev3 tnat the instrument was used
a. cloak and shield TO continue the slave trade
generally II It's most offensive form, ana with its
usual results OF distress TO the individuals kidnap-
ped and 10 the region wherein they were obtained.
AT presen England, France AID America are the
only civilized Powers with whom the lmaum OF
Muscat has concluded commercial treaties ana In
each OF these instruments for the sake OF trading con-
cesslous an infamous provision mas been sanctioned
recognizing the transportation OF saves from Zanzl-
bar to Auscat II they are simply TO be used as
house servants or concublnes. IL was especially
stated however, that TINS clause should IN way he
construed as countenancing the continuance or the
old system OF bringing slaves in large numbers TO
Muscat, ana there disposins oil them ior distribution
all over Persia and up the Euphrates, among the
great cities or MesOpoamia, such as Bagdad, MoSul
ana DarOekr. But The gate mus left 0p n, though,
like Mercuto's wound scarcely as wide as a church
door, has been enough and 1t has served a cloak
Tor the most 1agrant ntractions u the International
laws agreed upon by the principal maritime nations
for the abolition OF the trailc In human flesh
and blood. And lately, in the anarchy that for
the past couple or years has prevailed III the
Kingdom or oman the evll has grown to the
most serious dimensions. British cruisers
have constantly been on the watch for
slave dhows, but nave frequently been COM
peled to abandon their captives on Inc representa-.
ton that the slaves were BONA de servants OF cilI
Zens OF MusCar purchased IN Zanzibar ior their
own personal use. Tue relations between Zanzibar
ana Oman nave also added 10 The difficulty OIL de-
teclng iraua OF this character. unul about twenty
years ago lie Two countries were bolh under the
common sway OF the sultan 81 Muacat; anu, though
tneY have now been separated they are rueu by
branches OF the same dynasty ana citizens OF
ine one irequenly inherit property IN the other
kingdom. searcey h. tive trader, there there.
without awaiting himsei of tne preteXt aaorded
by the treaty 70 smugsle lnrou-n a lew slaves
INTO Arabia. only one ihiDg Aow remains 10 bo
done ana mat Is 10 aDrogae the PRESENT treaty. Ii
this nc agreed upon b., botn England aud America
slave property Viii not be recognized upon any con-
duous whatever. ana an Arao shi i-owher VIII
scarcely even dare 10 take ms slaves 10 with
him 20 WORK his vessels
II Is well, however, that the character OF the
slavery thus 10 be indirectly abolished siould pe
clearly uncerstood Whe lhe Koran has never
denied the right oil property III esh and blood, but,
on the contrary, Ike the old Hebrew law has posi-
lively sanct.one IT. Arab bondage mas always been
OF very mid and humane type There Is
no question Ia The mind OF Masstlman as
10 the perfect equally OF negro soul
with his own, ana SHOULD has slave have Tie
good sense 10 embrace Islam ne III once becomes
In many Important respects entitled " me same
rights as his MASTER Tuus If ne Is overworked or
starved or abused, The Dondsnan has the prlvieg 9
o. appealing 10 the caul his evidence having the
same weight as thar OF his owner, aud shoula the
charge be found true the cadi provides Tor the
future proper treatment Of line slave by ordering
his sale 10 some more humane owner orby imposing
fine as an incentive 10 better conduct IN the future
The marital Rights OF tue slave are also respected,
ana ms Children though corn mo slavery are sent
side by side witn me children foi his propfle-
tor receive exactly the same instruction In
reading, writing and ths Koran. Inc most
curious prOJl, however, OF the humanity OF
Arab slavery Is found IN It's PROVISIONS with regard
10 bondwonen. Tired OF has Tour legal wives u
wealthy ARAB perhaps adds 10 his hafen by pur-
Chasing hall u dozen negresses from Save dealer
The wives, no doubt, compain, anu probably make
The lives OF the unfortunate Newcomers very hard
ones especially as custom gives them almost ab5o-
lute power over them. tut Inc law provides that,
though in slavery, the woman has si The prlyi-
lege, II she desires TO eXeicsc it, OF decinlng the
Oyerlures ~ her master and preserving her virtue.
ANY offence against TINS humane measure would
be punished VITA heavy fine ana the forfeiture
o. TIE mans vested right vi property IN The woman
ne had 50 cruelty injured. as a general tang, how
brace the lot offered them, since II they are oniy
blessed with child, they al once become
aUc concublAe their owner being compelled
10 maintain them in comfort, while they are released
ties. And what s. further nullan.Zes the relation
between the Two is the TACT that the Offspring or
union such as TINS are me iegai offspring oil the
AraD ana Inulatloes thouEh theJ DC, they inherit
certain fixed share OF his wealth. and IN event OF
the death Of tleH ell.er brethren they assume the
headshp o. tile family. AS = case IN point, II IL
oniy necessary 10 mention the present rulers OF
Muscat ana Zanzibar, Dota oil whom are the chill
dren ol negro slave women ald Enough they are
III features and OmpieXion even more negro than
ARAB tncr right 10 the thron, Is cheerIuliy ac-
knowedsei By their SUBJECTS OF pure Semitic blood.
WINE, tuereore, the system Is utterly wrong ana
wicked, ~ is something Infinitely different from
what slavery used 10 be III our own countly. It's
Its victims NO doubt when once iairly In the
possession OF an owner The boy or girl for the
slaves imported are mostly OF tender age-has
but little TO complain Of, and Is much
better OH than IN his or her native land. Bat
the capture OF slaves OF course, Involves the con-
slant carrying ON vi native wars on the African
coast ana the save dealers are frequently cruel
ana careless, sllce tner Victims are 100 ignorant
know that they could ooIain redress by complaining
to me magistrate OF are, perhaps out OF reach VI
the usual Mussulman authorities. There Is one
sadly coMmol Darbaiity, too, connected with the
trafic winch cannot be too Indignantly con-
demIed--ine initiation Of boys so as TO nt
them Tor the office VI eunuch Thls
hideous crime performed invariably before the
poor wretcles are carried from Africa ant IL IA
said tnat the mortality attending IL Is Iri2htiu, al
least Iour DIVING out of ave from tue unskilu sur
gerry OF the operators. hoy thus mutaied, how
ever, Is worth ten times the value OF an ord nary
slave.
Though all the slaves imported into Muscat are
negroes Lney are drawn rom tho distinct sourc $,
ana are of two clearly marked yarieties. The FIRST
class come from zanzibar, ano axe called seedees.
Tney are sold in Muscdt al from Sl0 To $50 each, ac
cording TO age and condition The second class
come rom ADvssina, and from their docllity aud
In diligence are far more valuable selling as high
as from 500 TO $780, These are VI course, only the
prices OF the men. For women, VINO are mainly
bought for purposes OF concublnage, the rates are
considerably higher. Even Seedee woman, BLACK
as the ace OF spades, with blubler ups ana wool
I'd Akl