The examiner., 1886-07-10
SLAVES SOLD TO THE TURK.
How the Vile Traffic is Still Carried on
in the East


How the Vile Traffic is Still Carried on
in the East
The great favorites with the Turks have
always been tls Circassian girls. This
preference still exists and, think, with
reason. The similarity between the fine
fleur or the Anglo-SaXon type Of beauty
and of the Circassian type is truly re-
markable. The same queenly limbs the
same clear complexion, the same fair skin,
blonde, Wavy hair, and blue eyes. The
Turks themselves being dark, they are
naturally attracted to the fair ones of
the opposite sex Thus since time i'm
memorial it has always been blonde VINO
has reigned as Sultana FavOrite in the
Serial.
Thus, too, the highest priced of the
human chattels have been and still are
the Circassian girls. Now, Circassia itself
having completely passed under Russian
rule, it is mostly from the Circassians who
have settled on Turkish territory that the
supply is taken. The province where they
are most numerously and thickly congre-
gated is that of Sivas, in the Horthern
part of Asia Minor, with Aziziah for its
principal town. 1t is a very fertile district,
with enormous agricultural and pastoral
interests especially stock raising.
Formerly the Circassian Beys and chiefs
used to pay regular tribute in girls to
the successor of the Caliph That is no
longer done. But it is a common thing
to see Circassian chiefs, who have favO1s
to ask in Stamboul or who wish to expedite
important matters, agree to furnish
pretty maid in lieu of spot cash as back
sheesh. Debts, too, are frequently cam
called by them in the same manner Nor
is this last custom confined to the Cir
cessians am told it is very often done
in all parts of the empire. There are no
actual statistics available as to the number
of CircaSsian girls thus annually disposed
Of but it must range in the thousands.
Prices, too, vary enormously. In general
it may be stated however, that the prices
for pretty white slaves have been univer-
sally overstated by European writer's on
the subject.
From the best authorities know that
from ESQ to e10O Turkish 1920 to $44O)
is the average price paid for a pretty Cir
cassian maiden. ga really beautiful
woman fetches her price anywhere, of
course, in London and Paris as well as in
Stamboul," was the way one of my inform
ntsput it, sand from e20O to $500 is
thus often enough paid for real beauty.
But such prices are rare.' Compare this
with the prices paid for Syrian girls (the
second highest in demand) and for Nubian
girls, which are still much lower, and one
must own that Constantinople is not the
best market for female beauty. The traffic
in Syrian girls is carried on in all the
coast towns of Asia Minor. These girls
have dark eyes and hair and are, to speak
the truth, little loft COLOR" j. e. their COM
plexion are about as light brown as that
of an American quadroon girl They
have generally good figures while young,
but age more rapidly than their Circassian
sisters.
From EGO to ESQ is considered an aver
age price to pay for one of them.
The Nubian girls, who are mainly used
as domestic slaves are still cheaper, for
they range in price between e6 and ego.
Evidence of this trade, all secretly carried
on, will come to the notice of any Observ-
ant European who stays for some time in
the country, and enough of them came,%. S
I said, to the observation of the commits
sion. Female slaves would now and then
come to them for aid to obtain their liberty,
and in all such cases, after going through
the usual formalities of applying for her
emancipation papers, the girl or woman
was granted it by the Turkish authorities,
due, of course, only to the active interior
ence of the British.
Now and then case would occasion
more than ordinary difficulties Thus at
Adanah, in Northern Syria, woman, the
slave of an Ottoman functionary, who had
thrown herself on the protection of the
commission and had demanded her freedom.
was at first stubbornly refused it by her
master as well as by the Governor of the
province, who was being Influenced by the
owner. It was only when the threat was
made to get the direct intercession of the
British Ambassador at STEAMBOAT that she
was given ker freedom. The matter at
the time raised commotion in that prov
ince. This, then, briefly told, was the ex-
perience of the commission. Things are
still about in the same shape in Asiatic
Turkey