The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-11
Beauty Sold by Auction.

A correspondent of the Paris Gaulois
describes a recent visit to slave sale
in Constantinople. Notwithstanding
the nominal abolition Of the slave
trade in Turkey, through the efforts OF
the civilized European Governments,
t still continues in furtive way. AS
long as the harem exists, this trade
will exist.
This sale was in a house. All the
windows facing the street were closed.
The correspondent accompanied an
Eoyptian friend and his valet in car
riage to the mosque OF the Sultan Ma
homet, at which point they turned IN
to narrow and complicated stress
which finally became impossible. They
alighted before pile of mud which
could be crossed only on foot. Reach
ing the house, they were introduced
into the selamlik, or chamber reserved
for male visitors. Here they found
the slave dealer standing, short pipe
in hand. He was little old Trlpoll-
tan. Gassirgi- Messoud-Aga, by name.
He has followed the business for forty
wears. After the customary saluta-
tions, pipes and coffee were offered
and taken with the silence usual TO
Orientals before any business transac-
ion.
An ebony young eunuch soon en-
tered and whispered in Messoud s ear.
The latter made sign of acqules-
cenee, and, turning to the guests said ::
"Bouyouroun' (permit mel. The
~
room of the harem. A long dlvan,
above foot and half high and tour
feet wide, surrounded three SIDES OF
the chamber. An excavation IN the
wall held the cushions and covering
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 Circassla,
in the dress of their country. OppO-
site were three other women, one OF
them was white, from Georgia, and
the others black.
All arose as the visitors entered
One of the Circassians seemed scarcely
Ii. She had bright chestnut hair
long, dark eyelashes, which shaded
eyes of liquid blue; light, well
rounded form and regular features
overcast with melancholy. She was :
beauty Of the first class. Her com
panion, aged Is, was slightly less beau
tiful. but was performer on tn
kemendja or Turkish violin. In ad
dition, she was recommended as goo'
cook, seamstresS, and washer. tie
brown hair fell to her knees. Sh
looked at the visitors cOolly, and fixe
her eyes on the Egyptian with an es
preston that seemed to ask him
purchase her.
At a sign from Messoud one of tn
black girls disrobed the Circassian!
This was not complicated process
as the dress was simply a tunlc,
pair of trousers, and a chemise. Th
Younger seemed distressed ; the othe
simply fixed her eyes upon the foo
Messoud passing his hands over then
called attention to their good point
and made them show their pear
teeth. He dweit also upon the stri'
decorum of their antecedentS.
After an examination of the GeOr
ian and glance at the black girls Il
parts returned to the Selamlik to clio:
The bargain. The youngest Circassis
was quoted at 200 pounds Turkish, tt
elder ut $50. the Georgian at 100. II
Egyptian found them too high-price
He simply wante. house servar
The sale being completed, the par
were again served with pipes a
coffee, and left the house.
The preliminaries to this were &C
Quoted with great caution. The va
of the Egyptian was sent the day |
fore 10 announce his masters desil
and Messoud Immediately came to t
latter to assure himself that all v
right by personal inspection OF
CUSTOMER AS mere visitor to
harem would have been eyed askan
the correspondent was introduced
Tahir-Bey, Syrian gentleman "
wished to take chambermald no
with him.