News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-04-02
SLAVERY In PERSIA.
The Life of n FavOrite has Its Pleasant ms
well as Dark Shades.

An English newspaper gives the fol-
lowing account of slavery in Persia !:
| The best kind of slaves are the Habas-
shis, or so-called 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-
sions to good looks. As much as ESQ or
e100 may be given for healthy young
Habasshi girl. As a rule, these girls are
bought not as servants but as wives.
Young Habasshis of both sexes are pur-
chased by the grandees of Persia as
pIaymates and confidential servants for
| 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 Habasshi boys are
the playfellows and fellow students of
their youthful masters, often fulfill
ing the duties of whipping boys" 1
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 children seemed quite like brothers;
and 1 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 be
Shah of Persia. From this class of
slaves are taken the eunuchs (few nova
days. maintained by the nobility. The
few eunuch children imported are eager
ly purchased at double or treble the
prices of ordinary slaves. As rule, 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 we'll
clad, and often the master or mistress
glories in lavishing money on the dress
of a favorite slave
Sometimes the Persian, by a fall in
rank or through money losses, becomes
unable to keep his slaves. Does he sell
them? No; that would be too degrad-
ing. He simply frees them, and as a
rule the slave is made freeman very
much against the grain. The Persian
slave, then, is treated more as q child
than a slave. His master does not hest
tate to mate him with his own daughter;
and frequently prepossessing slave may
become the legitimate mistress of
household or even favorite wife, ruling
her less favorite white rivals. The SER
wants have to take their chance; the
warmest 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. 1 have only known two white eu-
nuchs in a long experience in Persia,
and these men had probably been politi-
cal offenders or the sons of political
criminals. Political pretenders are also
frequently blinded; for in the East
blind king cannot reign. The eunuchs
generally have their quarters in the ha-
rems themselves, and as rule they sell !
dom quit their precincts. When they
do they are treated with great respect,
on account of the powerful influence
they WELD.