Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-08-18
Slavery,

no better than that the only people who
have been in bondage, or slavery, are
the negroes of the South and the Jews.
Well-read people know that it is only
within the past eighteen years that alb
solute slavery of white people has been
abolished in Europe, and that at this
time slavery exists in full force in the
Eastern countries, as it did thousands
of years ago. A correspondent of the
Manchester Eraminer, writing from
Cons.antiuOple, Turkey, in regard to
slavery, saws:
The headquarters of the white slave
trade in Conssantinople are in the Bos-
tandehi quarter, which comprises anum-
Der of small, narrow streets between
Pers, Galata and Tophane. iee trade
is conducted almost exclusively by a
tribe of Circassians known as Tessird-
chs. Families generally work togeth-
er. One brother, for example, stops at
home and minds the shop, while the
other goes abroad and purchases and
forwards the raw material of the COM
merce. Negotiations with purchasers
are conducted through the intermediary
of Arab brokers, who call regularly on
their patrons to inquire if they are
wanting anything in black euEuchs or
white girls. The rendezvous of these
gentry is coffee house il the Bostand
chi quarter, the entry to which is strict
Iy forbidden to all save followers OF the
prophet. A white boy in good health,
from eight to fourteen years old, costs
from $3.50 to $500 if be has any ac
qulrements, such, for instance, as a
knowledge of cookery or other house
work, he will command twice as much.
A girl under ten years of age may be
had for Sl00, while a maiden between
twelve aud sixteen, especially if she
can read ard write and strum little on
the zittaa, is worth $4,000. A female
slave of exceptional beauty, young,
white and virgin-the style most in
vogue are BLONDES and black eyes
brings from $4,4 400 to $4,000. For q
choice specimen, with smattering of
French, and able to play few airs on
the piano, a rich amateur has been
known TO pay as much as $4,000. But,
as may be supposed. the demand for
articles of this description has greatly
fallen off since the halcyon time of per-
petual loans and profuse expenditure.
Black slaves, who are brought princi-
pally from Africa, are either sold d.
rect by the importers to the proprietors
Of harems or to dealers, two of whom
have extensive marts in Stsmboul.
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. A strong black slave sells
for about $50; a black maiden, $67 to
SIS; full eunuch, S3l5 to $400, and
half eunuch, Si35 to S225. Not the
least interesting part of the account
from which | quote is the writer's de-
scription of his visit to a slave dealers
den in the neighborhood of Scutari, the
exact locality OF which he was sworn
not to reveal. His companion was an
Arab broker, whom he had to back
sheesh heavily for his services. He as
sumed the character and presented him
self IN the garb of Hungarian rene
gade officer in the Turkish army, the
ostensible object of his visit being the
purchase of balaiks or house slave.
The slave dealers warehouse was a
large wooden building; the slave deal
er himself, digui6ed Turk of the old
school, bearded, turbaned and loftily
polite. Pipes and coffee we're of course
produced, and, after due interchange
of complimentary phrases, business be-
gan The dealers head man, Hassam,
a gigantic Nubian, was summoned, and
told to bring forth number of slaves
for the inspection of the broker and his
friend. Thirty negro women of various
ages and number of boys were then
led into the room. These the broker,
who had really commission to buy two
or three slaves, looked carefully over,
made them open their mouths, pinched
their ribs, tried their wind and exam
lDed their "points" as a horse dealer
examines the points Of an animal that