Milford chronicle., 1885-03-20
SLAVERY IN PERSIA
The Life Of n Favorite has its Pleasant n1
well as Dark shades.


An English newspaper gives the fol-
lowing account of slavery IN Persia
The best kind Of slaves are the Haoas'
sbis. or so-called Abyssinians. These
are Of a high type. The lips are thin,
tbe color light brown; there is often
distinct red in the cheeks; the halr IS
long. often nearly straight; both males
and females have considerable preten-
sions TO good looks. As much as ESQ or
elOO may be given for healthy young
Habasshi girl. As a rule, these girls are
bouqht not as servants but as wives.
Young Habasshis Of both sexes are pur-
chased by the grandees OF Persia as
pIavmates and confidential servants Tor
their sons and daughters. The girls be-
come the confdantes Of their young
mistresses, and ultimately occupy the
position Of housekeepers or wardrobe
women. The young Habasshl boys are
| the playfellows and fellow-students OF
/ their youthful masters, often fninli-
J ING the duties of whipping boys. 1
| have seen the little slave and playIelloW
| of the Jellal-u-dOwleh, the son OF the
kings eldest son, a 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 whipping.
That little black boy some day or other
will be a great parsonage, as, IN all
human probability, his master Will De
Shah of Persia. From this class OF
slaves are taken the eunuchs Qew nova
davs) maintained by the nobility. Inc
few eunueh children imported are eager
" purchased at double or treble the
prices of ordinary slaves. As a rule, the
Habasshis are delicate, and feel the
severe winter Of central and northerI
Persia. The greatest care IS taken o
them. They do no real work, and II L
not expected Of them. They are wei
clad. and often the master or mistress
glories in lavishing money on the dres
. of a favorite slave.
, Sometimes the Persian, by a fall Il
! rank or through money losses, become
unable to keep his slaves. Does he sci
them? No; that would be too degrad
! ing. He simply frees them, and as
ruIe the slave is made freeman YER
! much against the grain. The PERSIA
slave. then. is treated more as a chill
than a slave. His master does not hes
i tate to mate him with his own daughter
: and frequently a prepossessing slave ma
/ become the legitimate mistress OF
household or even a favorite wife, rulin
: her less favorite white rivals. The SCI
wants have to take their chance; tn
n warmest corner, the best food, the mo-
= solid and stylish clothing, are kept iC
n the slave. =,
a Eunuchs are owned only in Il
! houses of the great and rich. Save
O barems Of the Shah and his son
: nuch only rules over the flock
g I, \,rvants, slaves, aTd childrel
= = L9slEs Sis aosl e S1jso aSsnS e
!, y nuTchs in a,>1o--., ,Gpsuence in ~
j and these men had probably been polit
- cal offenders or the sons Of polite
y q criminals. Political pretenders are ali
\ frequently blinded; for in the East
i blind king cannot reign. The eunucl
n generally have their quarters in the b
i i Tems themselves, and as a rule they 81
!, dom quit their precincts. When thu
!. do they are treated with great respec
"a on account of the powerful intluen
~ they WELD.