The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-07-12
The Slave Trade in Egypt.

Yesterday the Forus made long stop
to take in a fresh supply of provisions
and coal. A short distance from us lay
gloomy dahabieh, with convoy OF
slaves from Cordufan. In that dirty
and ill-smelling boat, scarcely large
enough to accommodate two travellers,
were crowded ten women and FIVE chill
dren, on their way to Cairo to be sold.
| Those fifteen victims were huddled pell-
nell in the hold, while on the deck
dozen sailors were laughing boisterous-
ly. The Captain, leaning against the
mast, was smoking his chibouque, and
1 never saw on a galley slave a more
hang-dog looking countenanoe Or such
sinister head. Our dragoman knew
him, and told us that he was an old
Turkish canvas, well known at Cairo,
very daring, fearing neither God nor
the devil, yet, withal, pattern of flal
devoton; in proof of which. on his re-
turn from his last expedition, he had
sent to his parents at Constantinople
| pair of young negroes of great beauty.
The dragoman also explained to us the
method OF pursuing this sort of industry.
The slave traders maintain spies on
the confines of the Soudan, whose duty
it is to keep them informed as to the
condition of the villages that border on
the Nile, the number of women and
children suitable for seizure, the habits
of the population, and the most oppor
tune hour for making a successful raid.
The time having arrived. mounted on
swift dromedaries, bearing at their
tanks huge hampers, they pounce like
flock of vultures on the villages indi-
Gated, bind their victims, throw them
into the hamper and take flight. Ut
torly INSCRIPTIONS and well armed, if a
native attempts to obstruct their pas
sage they kill him without mercy.
Such atrocities justify only too well
the hatred that the African tribes bear
to foreigners and the cruel treatment to
which they subject those who fall into
their hands. Have they not the right
to look upon every paleface as an enc
myP Unfortunately, here as elsewhere,
the innocent suffer for the guilty, and
honest travellers have expiated the
crimes of these traflickers in human
flesh.
Returning on board at sunset, we
were present at the supper of these
slaves. And what a supper! Some
dirty -four stirred up in water-a por-
ridge wlich our dogs would eat with
disgust. They were all shigering, half
naked, around a scanty fire of rushes,
and were coughing with a dry cough;
already the cold was affecting those
lungs accustomed to the temperature of
the equator, and disposing them to con-
sumption.
l had remarked in the group q tall
and beautiful girl, with a naughty mien,
fine features and graceful figure. She
alone was not cast down and seemed to
defy fate. L was contemplating her
with compassion, mingled with GER
tain artistic curiosity, seeking to define
the exact meaning of that word
grace" which has its equivalent in all
languages and is applicable to all
species, when the rullian asked if l
would like to buy her.
Tell him." said | to the dragoman,
"that he is the one l would like to buy,
to have him hanged"
Ny reply had no other effect upon
him than to provoke a smile of sancti-
mon;ous serenity. That smile exasper-
ated me. | am by no means cruel, vet
could have blown the fellows brains
out in cold blood. In Europe we hunt
down the wolves and foxes that deci-
mate our sheep-folds and pillage our
poultry-yards, and ought we to show
child stealers any more consideration
One of the women, still young, was
weeping while squatting before the
warm ashes. Hakim Chakor, who
could speak a little in the Soudanese
tongue, approached and offered her an
orange and some sugar. She refused
it, but seeing the friendly hand that
had brought her the first consolation,
: she covered it with tears and kisses.
''Why do you not eatp" asked the
doctor.
"While my child is ill shall take nc
nourishment.
where is your childP" asked the
doctor.
''He is in the boat. If you are &
physician, cure him. The master who
killed my husband and my brother
wishes perhaps to kill him also. Their
, | shall starve myself to death"
| Night had now come. The slave
l trader, brandishing his courbach, ut
; tered formidable lila forward
and in the twinkling of an eye all those
wretches, shivering with terror anC
cold, had disappeared in the hold of the
dahabieh. The accursed craft went it.
way, and we felt relieved, at least, a
/, having no longer under our eyes thai
! ignoble spectacle.-SaunteringS IN Up
per Egypt.