The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-02-01


Hundred and Twenty ---Black Girls at
Thlrty- Flight.
A correspondent of the Paris
Ga,flois describes recent visit TO
slave. sale In Constantinople. Not
withstanding the nominal abolition
of the slave trade in Turkey, through
the efforts of the oivilized Euro pean
Governments, 1t still continues in
furtiye way, Aa long as the harem
exists, this trade will exist.
This sale was in house. All the.
windows facing on the street were
closed. The correspondent accom-
panied an Egyptian friend and his
valet in carriage to the mosque of
the Sultan Mahomet, at which point
they turned into narrow and com
plioated streets, which finally be-
came impossible. They alighted
before apile of mud which could be
crossed only on foot. Reaching the
house, they were introduced into tho
selamlik, or chamber reserved for
male visitors. Here they found tn
slave dealer standing, short pipe
in hand. He was O little old Tri-
politan, assirgi-Messoud-Aga by
name. He has followed the bust
ness for forty years. After the GUS
tomary salutations, pipes and coffee
were offered and taken with the
silence usual to Orlentals before any
business transaction. An ebony
young eunueh soon entered and
whispered in Messouds ear. The
latter made O. sign of acquiescence,
and, turning TO the guests, said
"Bouyonron" lpermit me.) The
guests rose and followed him into
the room of the harem. A long
diYan, about a foot and half high
and four feet wide, surrounded
three sides of the chamber. An
excavation in the wall held the
cushions and coverings used at
night. The floor was covered with
mats and loose pieces of carpet.
Upon the divan were seated, side by
side, two white girls from Circassia,
in the dress of their country. OPP
posite were three other women, one
of whom was white, from Georgia,
and the others black. All arose as
the visitors entered. One of the
Circassians seemed scarcely ii.
She had bright chesnut hair, long
dark eye .lashes, which shaded eyes
of liquid blue; a light, well-rounded
form and regAlar features, overcast
with melancholy. She was q beauty
of the first class. Her companion,
aged 18, was slightly less beautiful,
but was d performer on the
kemendja on Turkish violin. In
addition, she was recommended as O.
good cook, seamstress and washer.
Her brown hair fell TO her knees.
Sho looked at the piaitors eoolly,
and fixed her eyes on the Egyptian
with an expression that seemed to
ask him to purchase her. At a sign
from Messoud one of the black girls
disrobed the Circassians. This was
not a complicated process, as their
dress was simply a tunic, pair of
trousers and a chemise, The
younger seemed distressed; the
other simply fixed her eyes upon the
floor. Messoud passing his hands
over them, called attention to their
good points, and made them show
theis regular, pearly teeth. He
dwelt also upon the strict decorum
of their antecedents. After an ex-
animation of the Georgian and
glance at the black girls the party
returned to the selamlik to close the
bargain. The younger Circassian
was quoted at 200 pounds Turkish,
the eldera 1870, the Georgian at
120. The Egyptian found them
too high priced, and took one of the
black girls for SO pounds He sim
ply wanted house servant. The
sale being completed, the party were
again, served with pipes and coffee,
and left the house.
The prelimiaalies to this were
conducted with great caution. The
valet of the Egyptian was sent the
day before to announce his masters
desire, aad Messoud Immediately
came to tho latter to assure himself
that all was right for a personal in
spection of his customer. AS q
mere visitor to the harem would
have been eyed askance, the CORES
pondent was introduced as Tahir-
Bey,, q Syrian gentleman who
wished to take O. Ghambsrmaid home