Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-03-18
Slavery in Persia.
from the st. James, Gazette !


From the st. James Gazette.l
The best kind ofslaves are the Habas-
shis, or so-calIed Abyssinians. These
are of high type. The lips are thin,
the color light brown there is often q
distinct red in the cheeks; the hair is
long, often nearly straight; both males
and females have considerable preten-
lions to good looks. AS much as ESQ
or e1OO may be given for a healthy
young Habasshi girl. AS a rule these
girls are bought not as servants but as
wives. Young Habasshis ofboth sexes
are purchased by the grandees Of Persia
asplaymates and confidential servants
for their sons and daughters. The girls
become the confdantes of their young
mistresses, and ultimately occupy the
position of housekeepers or wardrobe
women. The young Habasshi boys
are the playfellOws and fellOw-students
OF their youthful masters, often full
filling the duties of whipping boys"
L have seen the little slave and play
fellow OF the Jellal-u-dOwich, theson of
the kings eldest son, child of three,
wrestling with his infant master, to the
great amusement of his father The
two children seemed quite like brothers:
and was told that the only way of
keeping the young prince in order was
to threaten the slave with a whipping.
That little black boy some day or
other will be great parsonage, as, in
all human probability, his master will
be Shah of Persia. From this class of
slaves are taken the eunuchs few
nowadays maintained by thenobility.
The few eunuch children imported are
eagerly purchased at double or treble
the price Of ordinary slaves. Asarule
the Habasshis are delicate, and feel
the severe winter of Central and
Northern Persia. The greatest care is
taken of them. They do no real work,
and it is not expected of them. They
are well clad, and often the master or
mistress glories in lavishing money on
the dress of a favorite slave.
Sometimes the Persian, by q fall in
rank or through money losses, sbe-
comes unable to keep his slaves. Does
he sell them? No; that would be too
degrading. He simply frees them, and
as a rule the slave is made a freedman
very much against the grain. The
Persian slave, then, is treated more
as a child than as a slave. His
master does not hesitate to mate him
with his own daughter; and frequently
a prepossessing slave may become the
legitimate mistress of a household, or
even a favorite wife, ruling her less for
tunate white rivals. The servants
have to take their chance; the warm
est corner, the best food the most
solid and stylish clothing, are kept for
the slave.
Eunuchs are owned only in the
houses of the great and rich. Save in
the harems of the Shah and his sons,
one eunuch only rules over the flock Of
ladies, servants, slaves and children,
who are all under his absolute author
ity. [ have only known two white
eunuchs IN long experience Of Persia,
and these men had probably been po-
ltlcal offenders or the sons of politi-
calcriminals. Political pretenders are
also frequently blinded, for in the East
a blind king cannotreign. The eunuchs
generally have their quarters in the
harems themselves, and, as a rule,
they seldom quit their precincts.
When they do they are treated with
great respect, on account of the pow
erful influence they WELD.
The ladies themselves always treat
their guardian with the greatest re-
spect, address him as "Master'' and
invite him to be seated Like the high
officers Of the state, he carries a long
wand OF Office, and this wand is often
encrusted with gems. He often at
tends the daily council of his master
II he be provincial governor, and
there his advice is listened to with re
spect; and he takes precedence Of all
except the minister, vice-go or
Wuzeer. OF course heplunges his hand
into the political pie, much to his own
advantage. He never refuses a bride.
He may do nothingfor it, but his hand
is ever open. The second eunuch of
the heir apparent of Persia is good
horseman, a favorite boon compan-
ION, and clever shot, generally popu-
lar as prince of good fellows. But
the eunuch ages soon. He is an old
man at 40; and once seen he is never
to be mlstaken-his sunken shoulders,
his beardless face, and his hollow
cough mark him out distinctly.
In Persia slaves are we'll fed, well
clothed and well treated; the people
look on them as equals, not interiors;
color is no degradation; they are not
put to hard labor; the law is the same
practically as for others. Mothers
are not separated from their children
or husbands from their wives. They
soon become absorbed by marriage
among the Persians, and | can fancy
/ no laD0Ia1, lot for the aOSlaVad black
| than to be sold in Persia.