The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-08-12

mosque situated in the heart of Galata,
Rud through which hundreds of persons
hourly pass. 1t has since TRANSFERRED
that. two female children--one already a
slave, the other an incorrigible gadabout,
whose description answers to that of the
little maiden in queslion--are missing
from their homes, having probably been
kidnapped by dealers in human flesh.
But though this case is particularly nOta-
BILE from the audacious openneSS with
which the crime such it is even in
Turkey-was committed, the law is fire.
qucntly and fagrantlY violated, as the
columns of the local press bear witness.
A short while back, a wretched girl eS-
capped from the harem in which she was
confined, and carried her scarlied and
bleeding shoulders to the nearest police
station, where it was clearly proved that
she had been stolen by Circassian dur
inc the refugee panic and traded away
for Il few pounds to an exceptionally
brutal mistress; and the authorities at
Salonica quite recently rescued four
young negresses from caique, just on
the point of landing them. These I'M
happy beings, who were lying in the
bottom of the boat, declared they had
belonged to party of ten, that after a
years captivity at port of the Nile had
been brought by the dealers on board a
coasting schooner, and crammed, half
naked, into small sitting cabin, in
which they had to be packed so close to-
gether that they were half piled on top
of each other After enduring the hor-
rors of that passage they were struggled
at night into the bark as described, but
they could give no information relative
to their six companions in misery, who
are, doubtless, therefore, by now in hope
less bondage. 1t does not appear that
their master was arrested. If these eX-
amples are accidentally dragged to light
how many girls are disposed OF without
the cognizance of the lax officials?
When | was in Damascus, some three
years back, | was led by native into
several of the slave dens, but always
found them empty. On inquiry, it turned
out that Midhat PaSha had sternly put
down the bazaar traffic. But what was
the resultp The slaves were distributed
amongst private houses, chiefly of Chris
tian Syrians. There they passed for
servants, but were in reality as freely
exposed to the genuine purchaser as
those who in ancient days had to suffer
the bitter shame of the public market
At Aleppo | could not completely satisfy
myself on the subject, but have excellent
reason for believing that a like system
was pursued there.
In the capital itself the trade has of
late encountered no further checks than
such as the increasing scarcity of Circas-
slams, Russia having to a great extent
shut off the sources of supply, and gen
eral poverty of the Turks afford. The
merchants, however, manage to find
victims, and. provided your money
is ready. you can easily gra, fly
your tastes as to color, age, beauty, etc.
An English lady ofmy acquaintance was
taken by black driver, who had learnt
that she was curious in the matter, to a
place at STEAMBOAT, into which she walked
without the slightest difficulty, cabby,
with his smattering of French, acting as
interpreter through a grating in the
door. When she entered the sale-room
"a large, barely furnished, and very
light apartment-th mistress of the es-
adjustment conducted her to a divan,
and slaves instantly fetched sweets and
coffee. No establishment was betrayed
at the intrusion of a GaOur women on
such scene. A number of white girls,
of ages varying from twelve to eighteen,
were then led up to her one
after the other, each in her turn
standing motiOnless before the sofa
till signed to yield her position to
her next fellow. They are described as
for the most part coarse, clumsy and
heavy, with cowed, sullen faces, and
muddy, yellow compilations. Their
dress consisted of gauze cap and a
loose frock, short sleeves, and reaching
t. the ankles, which was fastened down
the front with strings. Declaring that
her husband desired to present an Odalib
to a Pasha. the visitor asked to see some
prettier maidens, but was told there
were none on hand, though a selection
would shortly arrive, when she certainly
could be suited. Two Turkish women
were during this time choosing slaves.
No sort of consideration was paid to the
feelings of the poor girls Under ex-
animation they united their single gar
ment, according to the requirement of
purchaser or threw it off entirely if so
wished. Their teeth were looked at and
hair let down, their persons punched
and pulled about. The buyers, wanting
sound, useful articles, tested their
strength and searched for blemishes in
the same unconcerned manner as is done
at horse fair. No doubt they did not
intend to be cruel, but objected to get
ting worthless slaves, and probably did
not waste thought on the pain their
unceremonious proceedings must have
inflicted. As for the girls, their attitude
was invariably that of absolute, uncom-
planning submission. They stood with
downcast eyes and dropping limbs,
simply doing what they were ordered,
and never loosing for a moment their
look of stupid, hopeless Indifference. 1t
was their fate to be enslaved, weeping
and struggling would have been in vain,
and they had apparently grown SC
hardened to the chain that my friend
did not detect tear sigh or even q
blush.
But enough of these details, and with
the treatment of the damsels in the ha
rems | shall not at present NEEDLE
What have said is sufficient to prove
that the trade in slave girls still flouvishes
in Constantinople. But it will continue
to flourish till England insists on stric