The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-08-28

Correspondence Of the Manchester EQaminer)
The head quarters of the white slave trade in
Constaninopc are in the Bosandchi quarter
which comprises number of small, narrow
streets between Pera, Galata and Tophane. The
trade Is conducted almost exclusively by q
tribe of Circassians known rs TessirdChis
Families generally work together. One broth
er, for example, stops at home and minds the
shop while the other goes abroad and pur
chases and forward, the raw material of the
commerce Negotiations with purchasers are
conducted through the intermediary of Arau
brokers, who call regularly on their patrons to
inquire if they are wanting any thing in black
eunuchs or white girls. The rendezvous OF
these gentry is coilec-housc in the Bostand-
CHI quarter the entry to which is strictly for.
hidden to all save followers OF the Prophet a
white boy in good health, from eight to four
teen years old, costs from $3.50 to 5000 if he
has any requirements, such, for instance as n
knowledge of cookery or Ohcr homework, he
will command twice as much. A girl under
ten years old may be had tor 800, while q
maiden between twelve and sixteen, especially
If she can read and write and strum little on
the utter, is worth $500 A female slave of
exceptional beauty, young, white and virgin
the style most in vogue are blondes and
black eyes-brlngs from 81, 400 to $4,000. For
achoice specimen, with asmattcring OF French,
and able to play few airs on the piano. rich
amateur has been known to pay as much as
Sl2, 200. But, as may be supposed, the demand
for articles of this description has greatly fall
len OIL since the halcyon time OF perpetual
loans and profusc expenditure. Black slaves,
who are brought principally from Africa, are
either sold direct by the importers to the pro
prictOrs of harcms or 10 dealers, two Ot whom
have extensive marts IN Stamhoul. These two
generally keep on hand one hundred to one
hundred and twenty slaves each. There are
also depOtS IN Scutari and in several villages
on the Bosphorus \ strong black slave sells
for about 500, a black maiden, S6I to SO; an
cunuch, $3l5 to 800; and half cunuch, $3.50
to 1923. Not the least interesting part Of the
account from which quote is the writer's des-
cription of his visit TO a slave dcaCl's den in
the ncIghborhoUd of Scu'ari, the exact locality
of which he was sworn not 10 reveal. His com.
panion was an Arab broker, whom he had TO
bnckshCCsh heavily for his services. He aSsum-
ed the character and presented himself in the
garb OF hungarian renegade officer in the
Turkish army, the ostenslble object of his visit
being the purchase of a hdidjkS, or house slave
The slavedealer's warehouse was n large wood
en- building; the slave dealer himself digni-
fled Turk of the old school, bearded, turbancd
and loftily polite. Pipes and coffee were, of
course, produced, and, after due interchange
ofcomplimentary phrases business began. The
dealers head man, llassam, a gigantic Nublan,
was summoned, and told to bring forth mum.
Der of slaves for the inspection of the broker
and his friend. Thirty negro women of vari-
Gus ages and number of boys were then led
into the room. These the broker, who had
really "A commission 10 buy two or three slaves,
looked carefully over, made them open their
mouths, pinched their RIBS, tried their wind
and examined their points" a. n horse dealer
examines the points Of an animal which is of
fcred TO him for sale. In the end two women
and one boy were selected as suitable for their
purpose. Then began a long and almost in
termlne5le wrangle. The dealer asked 5000.