The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-01-11
BEAUTY SOLD BY AUCTION,
How the Harems of Cons tantinople are
Recruited.

Z correspondent of The Paris Gaulois
describes recent visit to slave sale in
Constantinople. Notwithstanding the
nominal abolition of the slave trade in
Turkey, through the efforts of the civ
ilized European governments, it still
continues in furtive way. As long as
the harem exists this trade will exist.
The sale was in house All the win
dows facing the street were closed. The
correspondent accompanied IN Egyptian
friend and his U0let in q carriage to the
mosque of the Sultan Mahomet, at which
point they turned into narrow and com
plicated streets, which finally became
impossible. They aiIghted before a
pile Of mud which could BE crossed only
on foot. Reaching the house, they were
introduced into the selaEllik, Or chamber
reserved for male visitors. Here they
found the slave dealer standing, short
pipe in hand. He was little old Trip
olitan, Gassirgi- Messoud-Aga by name
lie has followed the business fer forty
years. After the customary salutations,
pipes and coffee were offered and taken
with the silence usual to Orientals be-
fore any business transaction.
An ebony young eunuch soon entered
and whispered in Messoud's ear. The
latter made q sign of acquiescence, and
turning to the guests, said ''B0uyoa:T-
cun' (permit me). The guests rose
and followed him into a room of the
larem. 4 long divan, about y feet
high and feet wide, surrounded three
sides of the chamber. An excavation in
the wall held the cushions and coverings
used at night. Tie floor was covered
with mats and loose pieces of carpet
Upon the divan was seated, side by side,
two white girls from Circassia, 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
Il. She had bright, chestnut hair, long,
dark eyelashes, which shaded eyes of
liquid blue; light, well rounded form
and regular features, overcast with mel
ancholy. She was beauty of the first
class. Her companion, aged IS, was
slightly less beautiful, bu was a per
former on the kemond:2 or Turkish yio-
lin. LIZ addition, she vas recommended
as good cook. seanistress, and washer
Her brown hair fell ID her kncea. She
looked at the visitors coolIy, and fixed
her eyes on the Egyptian with an ex-
preston that seemed to ask him to pur-
chase her.
At 2 sign from Aessond one of the
black GIL disrobcd the Circassians.
This was no. p oompiicated process, as
their dress was SIM g ts7l:ic, q pair of
trowscrs and chelnise. - .o4-ager
seemed distressed; tile o.ler simply
fxedher eyes upon the floor. NIessoud,
passing his hands over them, called at
tentinn to their good points, and made
them show their regular pearly teeth.
He dwelt also upon the strict decorum
Of their antecedents.
After an examination Of the Georgian
and glance at the black girls, the par
ty returned to the selamlik to close the
bargain. The youngest Cireassian was
quoted at 200 pounds Turkish, the elder
at $50, the Georgian at 100. The Egypt
ian found them too high-priced, and
took one of the black girls for 80 pounds.
He simply wanted q house servant. The
sale being completed, the party were
again served with pipes and coffee, and
left the house.
The preliminaries to this were CON
Quoted with great caution. The valet Of
tie Egyptian was sent the day before to
announce his masters desire, and Mes
soud Immediately came to the latter to
assure himself that al was right by
personal inspection Of his customer. As
q mare visitor to the harem would have
been eyed askance, the correspondent
was introduced as Tahir- Bey, Syrian
gentleman who wished to take q cham
bernlaid home with him.