Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-09-24
Slave Market in COnstantinOpIe.

iEate N SOnStdntl0Op!o are IN the
Bostandchi quarter, which comprises a
number of small. narrow streets be-
tween re-a, Galata, and Tophane.
Tie :raGc is conducted almost exclu.
si,cly by 4 tribe Of Circassians known
as TessirGc!.is. Families generally
work together. One brother, for,ex
ample. stops at home and minds the
shop while the other goes abroad and
purchases and forwards the raw ma.
tcrial os the commerce. Negotiations
with purchasers are conducted through
Tie intermediary OF Arab brokers, who
cali regularly on their patrons to in
luire ii they are waiting anything III
black eunucns OR white girls. The
rendezvous OF these gentry is q coffee.
house in the Bostandchi quarter, the
eairy to which is strictly forbidden to
all save followers of the prophet.
y white hoy in good health, from
eight to fourteen years old, costs SlS0
to 500; ii he has any requirements,
such, for instance, as knowledge OF
cookery or other homework, he will
command twice as much. a girl under
ten years old may be had for 500
while maiden between twelve and
sixteen, especially if she can read and
write and strum little on the zittar,
is worth 50 800. A female slave of ex-
ceptional beauty, young, white and q
v!rgin-the style most i'll vogue are
blondes with black eyes-fetches from
: 400 t. $4,000. For very choice
specimen, with u smattering OF French,
and able 10 play few airs on the piano
4 rich amateur has beer known to pay
as much asl.Sl2 2O0. But as may be
supposed, the demand Tor articles OF
this description has greatly fallen Of
since the halcyon time of perpetual
loans and profuse expenditure.
Black slaves, who are brought princi
pa!iy from Africa, are either sold direc,
by The importers to the proprietors Of
Larems, or to dealers, two OF whom
have extensive private marts in STAN
boui. These two generally keep on
hand one hundred to one hundred and
twenty slaves each. There are also
depots in Scutari and in several vii
lagos On the Bosphorus. \ strong
black slave sells for about 800; q
black maiden SCI to So; full eunucL
$3l5 to 500; and half eunuch, $50 tC
500.
Not the least interesting part Of the
account from which l quote is the
writer's description of his visit to G
shareholders den in the neighborho
Of Scutari, the exact locality of which
he has sworn not to reveal. His com
puniou WAS an Arab broker, whom he
hal to backsheesh heavily for his ser
vices. lie assumed the character and
presented himself in the garb of Hun
garian renegade officer in the Turkish
army, the ostersible object of his WISH
being the purchase OF halaiks OF
house slave. The slave.dealer's ware
house is large wooden building; the
slave dealer himself a dignifed Turl
of the old school, bearded, turbanet
and lostily polite. Pipes and COTE,
were. of course, produced, and, after
due interchange of complimentary
phrases, business began. The dealer
head man, Hassan, gigantic Nubian
was summoned, and told to bring fortl
a number of slaves for the inspection
of the broker and his friend. Thirt.
negro women of various ages and {
number OF boys were then led into the
room. T.s9se the broker, who las
really commission to buy two or three
slaves, looked carefully over, made
them OPEN their mouths, punched thei
ribs, tried their wind, and examined
their "points as householder ex
amines the points of an animal which
is offered to him for sale. In the enc
two women and one boy were selected
as suitable for their purpose. Thel
began long and almost interminabl'
wrangle. The dealer asked 5000. Tht
broker laughed him to scorn ant
offered $50. Whereupon the TURK
waxed scornfully indignant, but il
consideration of the rank of his guests
offered to come down to SD. Their
more coffee and fresh pipes were or
derea, and after tremendous palave
and an immense consumption OF tobac
co, the lot was knocked down for $3.50
The purchase, it was agreed, should b.
sent for and the dealers little bill
settled on the following Cav.