Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-03-20
SLAVE LIFE IN PERSIA.
WHERE SLAVES ARE TREATED LIKE
CHILDREN.

slaves frequently Married 20 Their
maS'erS' Daughters - Receiving
the Best of Attention.
The best kind of slaves are the Hab-
asshis, or so-called Abyssinians. These
are of high type. The lips are thin,
the color light brown there is often dis
tinct redness in the cheeks; the hair is
long, often nearly straight; both males
and females have considerable preten-
Sions to good looks. As much as $50 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-
chaeod by tho aro ndaoS of Porsia a play
mates and confidential servants for their
sons and daughters. The girls become
the conidantes 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 fulfilling the duties of
whipping boys" have seen the little
slave and playfellow of the Jellal-u dow
leh, 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 per-
sonage, as, in all human prob
ability, his master will be shah of Per-
sia. From this class of slaves are taken
the eunuchs few nowadays maintained
by the nobility. The few eunuch chill
dren imported are eagerly purchased at
double or treble the price of ordinary
slaves. AS a rule, the 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 glores in lavishing money on
the dress of favorite slave.
Sometimes 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 degrad.
ing. He simply frees them, and as a rule
! the slave is made 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 prepossessing slave may be-
come the legitimate mistress of a house
hold, or even favored wife, ruling her
less fortunate white rivals. The servants
have to take their chance; the warmest
corner, the best food, the most solid and
stylish clothing, are kept for the slaves.
Eunuchs are owned only in the houses
of the great and rich. Save in the har
ems of the shah and his sons, one eu,
much only rules over the flock of ladies,
servants, slaves and children, who are all
under his absolute authority | have
only known two white eunuchs in a long
experience of Persia, and these men had
probably been political 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 quar-.
ters 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 power
tul influence they WELD.
The ladies themselves always treat
their guardian with the greatest respect,
address him as "Master," and invite him
to be seated. Like the high officers of
state, he carries long wand of office,
and this wand is often encrusted with
gems. He often attends the daily coun-
ell of his master if he be provincial
governor, and there his advice is listened
! 10 with respect; and he takes precedence.
Of all except the minister, vice governor
Or wuzeer. OF course he plunges his
hand into the political pie, much to his
own advantage. He may do nothing for
1t, but his hand is ever open, The sec
Ond eunuch of the heir apparent of Per-
sia is good horseman, a favorite boon
companion, and clever shot, generally
! popular as the prince of good fellows.
But the eunuch ages soon. He is an old
man 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 are we'll fed, well
clothed, aud 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 | can fancy no happier lot
for the enslaved black than to be sold In
Persia.-St. James Gazette.