Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-04-18
SLAVES IN PERSIA.
A Bright Picture Of Scenes of Ser.
vitude.
An Easy and Luxurious Life for Women.-The
Lordly Master Of the Slaves, and His
Weakness.


asshis. or so-called Abyssinians. These
are ofa high type. The lips are thir
the lor light brown; there is often q
distinct red in the cheeks; the hail
is long, often nearly straight; both
males and females have considerable
pretensions to good looks. As much
as ESQ or E1O0 may &c given fura healthy
young Habasshi girl. As a rule, these
girls are bought not as servants bat as
wives. Young Habasshis of both sexes
are purchased by the grandees OF Persia
as pIaymates and confidential servants
for their sons and daughters. The girls
become the conf iantes of their young
mistresses, and ultimately occupy the
positions of housekeepers or wardrobe
women. The young Habasshi boys are
the play-fellows and fellow students of
their youthful masters, often fulfilling
the duties of whipping boys" l have
seen the little slave and playfellow of the
Jellal u-dowleh, the son of the Kings
eldest son, child of three, wrestling
with his infant master, to the great
amusement of his father. The two chill
dren seemed quite like brothers; and /
wa 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 probability, his master will be
Shah of Persia. From this class ofslaves
are taken the eunuchs (few nowadays)
maintained by nobility. The few eunuch
children imported are eagerly purchased
at double or treble the price of ordinary
slaves. AS rule the Habasshis are del
icate, and feel the severe winter of CEN
tra'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 lavisbing money
on the dress of favorite slave. Some
times the Persian, by fall in rank or
through money losses, becomes 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 freedman very much
against the grain. The / ersian slave,
then, is treated much more as a child |
than as slave. His master does not |
hesitate to mate him with his own
daughter; and frequently prepossess-
ing slave may become the legimate
MISTRESS OF A HOUSEHOLD
or even favorite wife, ruling her less
fortunate white rivals. The servants
have to take their chance; the warmest
corner, the fest food, the most solid and
stylish clothing, are kept for the slaves.
Elnuchs are owned only in the hou rs
of the great and rich. Save in the
harems of the Shah and lis sous, one
eunuch only rules over the hocks of
ladies, servants and children, who are
all under his absolute authority. | have
only known two white eunuchs in a long
experience in Persia, and these men
have probably been political offenders or
the sons of political criminals. Political
pretenders are also frequently blinded;
for ia the Cast blind king cannot reign.
The eunuchs generally have theii quar-
ters in the harems themselves, and as
rule they seldom quit their precincts.
When they do they are treated with
great respect on account of the powerful
influence they yield. The ladies them
selves always treat their guardian with
greatest respect, address him as Master
md invite him to be seated. Like the
high officers of state, he carries a long
vanc OF office, and this wand is often
with gems. He often attends
THE DAILY COUNCIL
VI his master if he be provincial Gov
,rnor, and there his advice is listened to
With respect: and he takes precedence
II all except the Minister, Vice Governor
IT Wuzeer. OF course he plunges his {
,and into the political pie, much to his {
'wn advantage. He may do nothing for
/, but his hand is ever open. The sec :
nd cunuoh of tho hoiI aPpaIVn. vr rU.-
ia is a good horseman, favorite boon
and clever shot, generally I
popular as the prince Of good fellows. I
But the eunuch ages soon. He is an old
nan at forty; and once seen he is never
o be mistaken-his sunken shoulders,
lis bcardless face, and his hollow cough
mark him ort distinctly. In Persia, i
'laves are well fed, well clothed, and
veil treated; the people look on them as
,quals, not interiors; cvloI is no degra-
iation; they are not put to hard labor;
he law is the same practically for them
IS for others. Mothers are not sepaIat-
ID from their children, or husbands from
heir wives. They soon become absorb
ID by marriage among the Persians, and
can fancy no happier lot for the enslav-
I'd black than tn be sold in Persia.