The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-04-08
SLAVE LIFE IN PERSIA,
WHERE SLAVES ARE TKNATED I1KH
CHILDREN.

WHERE SLAVES ARE TRNATED Ixx1
cEILDRBN.
Slaves frequently Married to Their
Mas!ers' Daughters Receiving
the Best OF Attention.
The best kind of slaves are the Hab
asshis, or so.called Abyssinians. These
arc of a high type. The lips are thin.
the color light brown there is often q dis
tinct rcdncss in the checks; tho har il
long, often nearly straight; both males
aud females have considerable preten-
sions to good looks. As much as $50 or
e1O0 may be given for a healthy young
Habasshi girl. AS a rule, these girls are
bought, not as servants, but as wives
Young Habasshis of both sexes arc pur
chased by the grandees Of Persia as play
mates and confidential servants for their
o n and daughters. The girls become
the contdantes OF their young mistresses,
and ultimately occupy the position OF
housekeepers or wardrobe-women. Tbs
young Habasshi boys arc tho p!ayfellows
and fellow students of their youthful
masters, often fulfilling the duties of
"whipping. boys" I have seen the little
slave and playfellow Of the Jellal-u. dow
leh, the son of the kings eldest son, 81
child Of three, wrestling with his infant
master, to the great amusement of his
father. The two children seemed quite
like brothers; and I was told that the
only way Of keeping the young prince JIM
order was to threaten the slave With s..
whipping. That little black boy some
dry or other will be o great per-
sonago, ss, in oil human prob
ability, his master will be shah of Per
sia. From this class of slaves are taken
the eunuchs (fow n~owadays) maintained
by the nobility. The rev eunuch chill
dren imported are eagerly purchased att
double or treble the price of ordinary
slaves. As o rule, tho Habasshis are.
delicate, and feel the severe winter. Of
Central and Northern Persia. The great
est care is taken Of them. They do no.
work, and it is not expected OF them.
They are well clad, and often the master;
or mistress gforles in lavishing money on
the dress of q favorite slave.
Sometimes the Persian, by o fall IN
rank or through money losses, becomes
unable to keep his slaves. Docs he SELL
them3 No; that would be too degrad.
ing. He simply frees them, and as a rule
the slave IS made. o freedman very much
against the grain. The Persian slave,
then, is treated more as a child than as d
slave. His master docs not hesitate to-
mate him with his own daughter; and;
frequently a prepossessing slave may be-:
come the legitimate mistress Of q house,
hold, or even Q favored wife, ruling her
less fortunate white rivals. The servants:
have to take their chance; the warmest
corner, the best food, tho most solid and
stylish clothing, arc kept for the slaves.
Eunuchs are owned only in tho houses
Of tho great and rich. Save In the hard
ems of tho shah aud his sons, ono eu-s
much only rules over the flock Of ladies' q
servants, slaves and children, who are all
under his absolute authority. have
only known two white eunuchs In . long
experience Of Persia, and these men hsd
probably been political offenders or tho
son Of political criminals. Political
pretenders arc also frequently blinded;
for in the East o blind king cannot reign.
The eunuchs generally have their quar-.
ters in the harcms themselves, and as 5a
rule they seldom quit their precincts.
When they do they are treated with
great respect, on account Of the power
full influence they WELD.
The ladies themselves always treat
their guardian with tho greatest respect,
address him as 'Mastcr, nand invite him
to be seated. Like tho high officers of
state, he carries a long wand Of office,
and this wand is often encrusted with
gems. He often attends the daily coun-
Gil of His master if he be q provincial
governor, and there his advice is listened
to with respect; and he takes precedence
of all except the minister, v~ice.goverpor
or wuzcer. Of course he plunges his
hand into the political pie, much to his
own advantage. He may do nothing for
it, but his hand is ever open. The Sec.
ond eunuch of the heir apparent OF PEI.
STA is a good horseman, o fayorite boon
companion, and q clever shot, generally
popular as the prince of good fellows
But the eunuch ages soon. He is On old
maj at forty. and once seen he is never
to be mistaken-his sunken shoulders,
his beardless face, and his hollow cough
mark him out distinctly.
In Persia slaves arc we'll fed, well
clothed, and we'll 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 practi-
cally for them 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 I can fancy no happier lot
for the enslaved black than to be sold In
Persia. st. James Gazette.