The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-12-29
MISCELLANY.
Beauty Sold By Auction-HOw the
Hsrems Of COnstantinOple are
Recruited.


Hsrems OF COnstantinOple are
Recruited.
A correspondent of the Paris Gaulois /
describes q recent visit to . slave sale in |
Constantinople. Notwithstanding the
nominal abolition of the slave trade in |
Turkey, through the efforts of the civil |
ized European Governments, il still con-
times in furtive way. As long as the
harem exists, this trade will exist.
This sale was in house All the
windows facing the street were closed.
The correspondent accompanied an
Egy plain friend and his valet in a car
riage TO the mosque of the Sultan
Mahomet, at which point they turned
into marrow and complicated streets,
which finally became impassable. They
alighted before q pile of mud which
could be crossed only on foot. Reach
ing the house, they were introduced into
the selamlik, OF chamber reserved for
male visitors. Here they found the
slave dealer standing, short pipe in
hand. He was little old Tripoiltan,
Gassrigi- Messoud- Aga, by name. He
has followed the business for forty years,
After the customary salutations, pipes
and coffee were offered and taken with
the silence usual to Orientais before any
| business transaction.
An ebony young eunuch soon entered
and whispered in Messoud's ear. The
latter made sign Of acquiescence, and
turning to the guests, said: "Bonyour-
oun" (permit me) The guests rose and
followed him into room of the harenl.
A long divan, abouta foot and half
high and four feet wide. surrounded
three sides of the chamber. An excaya-
ton in the wall held the cushions and
coverings used at night. The floor was
covered with mass and loose pieces OF
carpet. Upon the divan were reated
side BY side, two white girls from Cir.
cassia, in the dress of their country
. Opposite were three other women, one o.
whom was white, from Georgia, and the
others black.
All arose as the visitors entered. On
of the Circassians seemed scarcely IA
She had bright chestnut hair, long, darl
eyelashes, which shaded eyes of liquic
T. blue; light, well-rounded form and re
gular features, overcast with mslanchol
t ly. She was beauty of the FIRST class
: Her companion, aged is, was slightl
e less beautiful, but was performer o.
8 the kemendja or Turkish violin. In ad
q ditio1, she was recommended as goo
cook, seamstress, and washer. He
9 brown hair fell to her knees. She look
u ed at the visitors coolly, and fixed he
o eyes on the Egyptian with an expressio
e that seemed to ask him to purchase he
d At a sign from Messoud one of tt
l. black girls disrobed the Circassians.-
This was not complicated process, I
their dress was simply tunic, pair (
le trousers, and chemise. The young
e. seemed distressed; the other simply fl
h ed her eyes upon the floor. Messou
,e passing his hands over them, calle
IN attention to their good points, and mac
is them show their regular, pearly teet
ut He dwelt also upon the strict decoru
Of their antecedents.
After an examination of the Georgi.
ng and glance at the black girls the par
ed returned to the selamilk to close t
he bargain. The youngest Circassian W
be quoted at 200 pounds Turkish, the eld
We at 13O, the Georgian at 120. The Egg
nd tian found them too high-priced, a
of took one of the black girls for SO poun'
Id He simply wanted house servant. T
ss, sale being completed, the party We
= again served with pipes and coffee, a
. left the house.
ite The preliminaries to this were ct
ch Quoted with great caution. The valet
,n- the Egyptian was sent the day before
rty announce his masters desire, and M
soud Immediately came to the latter
assure himself that all was right b,
" =. personal inspection of his customer
a mere visitor to the harem would hi
been eyed askance, the correspond
tis- was introduced as Tahir- Bey, Syr
'ul- gentleman who wished to take cha
the bermaid home with him.