Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-03
BEAUTY SOLD AT AUCTIOy.
How The Harems Of Oonstanttnople
are recruited.

are recruited.
A correspondent of the Paris
Gaulois describes a recent visit to a
slave sale in Constantinople. Not
withstanding the nominal abolition
of the slave trade in Turkey,
through the efforts of the civilized
European governments, it still con-
tinues in a 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 accom-
panied an Egyptian friend and his
yaletin a carriage to the mos sque OF
the Sultan Mohammed, at which
point they turned into narrow and
complicated streets, which finally
became impossible. They alightcd
before pile Of mud which could
be crossed only on foot. Reaching
the house, they were introduced
into the selamlik, or chamber re-
served for male visitors. Here
they found the slave dealer stand
ing, short pipe in hand. He was
a little old Tripolitan, Gassirgi-
Messoud-Aga, by name. He has
followed the business for forty
years. After the customary saluta-
tions, pipes and coffee were offered,
and taken with the silence usual
to OrientalS before any business
transaction.
An ebony young eunuch soon
eutered and whispered in Messoud's
ear. The latter made a sign of ac-
quiescence, and, turning to the
guest, said, "Bouyouroun" (per-
nit me). The guest rose and fol-
lowed him into room of the harem.
A long diyan, about a foot and a
half high and four feet wide, sur
rounded 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 diyan were seated, side
by eide, two white girls from Cir
cassia, in the dress of their country.
Opposite 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 fourteen. She had bright
chestnut hair, long, dark eyelashes,
which shaded eyes of liquid blue !;
a light, well rounded form and reg
ular features, overcast with melan-
choly. She was a beauty Of the
first class. Her companion, aged
eioI teen, was slightly less beautiful,
but was q performer on the ke-
mendia or Turkish violin. In ad.
dIti,n, she was recommended as a
good cook, seamstress and washer
Her brown hair fell to her knees.
She looked at the visitors coolly,
and fixed her eyes on the Egyptian
with an expression that seemed to
ask him to purchase her.
Alta sign from MessOud one of
the black girls disrobed the Circas-
slams. This was not complicated
process, as their dress was simply a
tunic, a pair Of trowsers and a
chemise. The younger seemed dis
tressed; 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 their regular,
pearly teeth. He dwelt also upon
the strict decornm Of their antece-
dents.
After an examination Of the
Georgian, and a glance at the black
girls, the party returned to the
selamlik to close the bargain. The
youngest Circassiap vas quoted at
200 pounds Turkish, the elder at
1870, the Georgian at l2O. The Egyp-
tiau found them too high-priced,
and took one of tho black girls for
80 pounds. he simply wanted a
house servant. The sale being
completed, the party were again
served with pipes and coffee, and
left the house. n