Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-10
Gales aud Sketehes.
Slaves Sold to the turk.
How THE VILE TRAFFIC Is Still CAR.
RIED ON IN THE EAST.
Continued from Yesterday. }

Nv middleman was an Armenian rene.
gade, and he agreed to introduce me un-
der the guise of a "Ferenghi hakim
bashi,'' Frank doctor in the employ oil
the Turkish army At the hour appoint.
ed met the Armenian, whom will call
Kevork. donned the garb provided for
me, including fez, armed my eyes with
green spectacles, put false beard on, as
well as military sword, and thus &C.
coutred sailed forth into the dark: We
got into closed carriage and drove over
to Stamboul. We gained the Mahmoud
Diaddessi, the principal street OF the town
and passed the tomb of Sultan Nah
mould and the "Burat Column" that an.
cient bronze monument of Greek valol
over the Persians of old Soon after that
I was blindfolded and then the carriage
made turn to the right. We were driven
over the most horrible pavement, and
was shaken out of my seat more than once
but the bandage over my eyes was imme.
diatel readjusted. After the lapse of what
seemed to me long while, but was prob
ably only 10 minutes or so. the carriage
stopped. | was taken out of it, and a
third person took my left arm, while ke-
work linked his into my right one. Thu:
we walked for another five minutes, when
my left arm was released and my guide
knocked at a door, which was immediate.
ly opened, and | was led up two steps
into hall and up worn-out staircase OIL
stone, finally through two rooms. In the
centre of the third room the bandage was
removed from my eyes. and | was led tC
"a divan and sat down. The room in which
found myself was oblong in shape. OF
more than average size, and bare of all
furniture save divans running around
three sides of it. There were cushions
on them, here and there. There stood
also, a mangal (brass vessel filled
with glowing charcoal) in the centre OF
the room and some candelabra fur.
nished good light. Two small
tables, about eighteen inches il
height each. stood near the divans There
were two windows, but close lattice work
on the inside prevented view into the
streets. had but barely completed thi.
hasty survey when a courtly old Turk. the
owner of the house, entered. | noticed
that he wore the green strip OF the hadi
around his fez He made the modern sal
utation of the Musselman bv touching his
breast and forehead and | began to hur
my Turkish phrases, acquired the day be.
fore from Mr. Werndel, at his devoted old
head, occasionally assisted by homes
Kevork.
"Aksham lariniz hair alsoun," (Ma,
your evening be felictous,) | remarke &c
in execrable Osmanl.
He replied the same.
"Alish verish nasil?" (How is bust
ness?) | continued.
"Durghun." Dull, he said. whereup
on he clapped his hands; Nubian APP
peared. and he gave some order. A mo
ment later narghilehs were brought in
| lighted. and the tube OF one handed to ms
| who was, like the rest, reclining in hal
recumbent position on the divan next tt
the grand old Turk and his grandel
white beard Turkish coffee. in delicat,
little cups and set in filigree holders. wa!
also handed around. during which time
and for about five minutes longer abso
lutte silence reigned. only broken by th,
bubblng of the water in the narghilehs
Then the old gentleman remarked
"Pashalar okadar almiolar" (The Pahas
do not buy so manv) Again no wore
was spoken for a short while.
"Bir guizel sari KUHN fat nekadr dir?'
(What is the price OF a pretty fair girl?,
! next asked
Xxi yuz Ira" (f20O,), he replied.
Dir geuzel kiz bana geusteriniz, y
(Show me pretty girl,) I said.
The old Turk threw questioning
glance at my guide. Then he clapped hi
hands again. The brown skinned attcn
dant who appeared was given an order
| and about ten minutes elapsed. during
which new coffee was brought in accom-
panied by dish of sweetmeats. OF which
did not partake. Then the door opened
and a parsonage. gotten up very much il
the same fashion as the Khavasses, ne
gro, pompous and fat. entered first fol
| lowed by half dozen females, clad il
| loose garments of Broussa silk, ant
wearing the yashmak. The pompous ne
gro was the kiz-agassi, 0iterallv girls
boss.) OF course a eunuch, and the female
were the first lot" One by one tn,
girls, obeying their masters behest
| stepped up closely to me and unveiled
| here was not a pretty one among them
They were all Nubian girls, quite young
between II and Il | should say. excepting
one Syrian girl of perhaps Is, who wa
| just tolerable. The grand old Turk be
gan to descant on her beauty and gooC
points. but cut him short, saying: ''Bo,
kiz guezel deildir" (his Girl is not pref
ty) The G. O. I. said nothing. bu
clapped his hands again and made ;
sweeping motion to the kiz-agassi as i
requesting him to sweep this dirt off tn,
| face of the earth, or at any rate, out of hi
and my sight. The kiz-agassi marched
the first lot ont again Just as pompous anC
silent AS at first. Pretty soon ne entered
again. followed by seven other girls
dressed and yelled similarly. but a triti,
more extensively. This second slot
was a little better but not much, They
were all Syria and Circassian girls. al
of them very Young, and rather shy ant
modest when encountering the gaze of thu
stranger. | repeated my phrase "Nt
good and they were also swept out o
my sight. Lastly. three girls wer,
brought in. and one of them was a beauty
and no mistake. | think she must have
been about Is. quite fair, even for Cir
cassian, with light hazel eyes. black eve
brows and long, yellow hair. She mad ne
objection to taking off her lower garments
but evidently showed her face with reluc
lance | think she liked me not she
hardly looked at me.
"Bou kiz guezeldir, "(this girl is pretty
sententiously remarked the G. O. T.
don't dispute the point, but asked
Bon kiln tiati nekadardir ?" What i.
the price of the girl?)