Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-09
Gales aud Sketthes.
Slaves Sold to the turk.
How THE VILE TRAFFIC Is STILL, CAR.
RIED ON IN THE EAST.

CoNsTANTINoPLE, March 4.-While a
guest at the hospitable board of DIR. S.
Highlander, the chief of Reuters's Agency
in the Orient. five DAYS ago. NV nelghbor,
the young Count de Disqualification, at
tache to the Spanish Legation here. re-
marked quite accidentally: by the way,
Young Arstarchi Pasha has Young Cir
cassian slave who is said to be as beauti-
full as the moon-that's his expression
He paid f20O Turkish for her-a steep
price nowadays. But he had had wind
fall and could afford it."
was astounded. ''Is the trade in fe
male slaves still being carried on right
here under the eyes of virtuous England's
representative ?" | asked. my impress
sion had been up to this time that this sort
of thing belonged to the past" My query
was received with shout of laughter,
and | heard enough that evening and
since from well informed persons, long
time residents in this most strange and
interesting OF capitals. to make me under
stand why had been thought little too
unsophistcated in putting such question.
made the matter special study for sew
eral days, and the result OF my researches
is embodied in this letter.
| had several conversations with Mr..
W. II. G. Werndel, member of the Brit
sh military commission which, under Sir
Charles Wilson's direction, from 1879 to
1888. made an exhaustive investigation
into the social, military and agricultural
condition of Asia Minor, a consequence
of the convention in 1878 by which Eng
land was coded Cyprus, but had to guar
antee the Sultan his dominions in Asia.
Mr. Werndel knows and speaks Turkish
thoroughly. and thus his facilities for ac-
curing knowledge were unusual. That
slaveryexisted all through the Ottoman En-
pire he said, and that the trade in females
for the supply of harems is still car
ried on universally could not be doubted
Too many evidences of it came to the
knowledge of the commission. The
trade, however, is carried on under cover,
although with the knowledge and CONN.,
vance OF the Turkish authorities every
where. The latter deny its existence
whenever approached by Europeans.
Nevertheless, there are some patent facts
which were mentioned in the official re-
port made bv the commission to the home
Government, but which, of course, had
meyer been published heretofore. How
could the harems OF his Imperial Majesty
Abdul Hamd and of his pashas and veal
thy subjects be supplied unless the trade
still tlourished. though quietly?
The great favorites with the Turks have
always been the Circassan girls. This
preference still exists. and, think,
with reason The similarity between the
fine fleur or the Anglo Saxon type and of
the Circassian type is truly remarkable.
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 immemorial it has
always been blonde who has reigned as
Sultana Favorita in the Serial. Thus,
too, tho highest priced of the human chat
tells have been and still are the Circassian
girls Now. Circassia itself having COM
pletely passed under Russian rule, it is
mostly from the Circasslans who have set
tied on Turkish territory that the supply
is had. The province where they are
most numerously and thickly congregated
is that of Sivas, in the northern part of
Asia Minor, with Aziziah for its principal
town. 1t is Il very fertile district with
enormous agricultural and pastoral inter-
ests, 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 common thing to see Circas-
sian chiefs, who have favors to ask
in Stamboul. or who wish to expedate inn
portant matters. agree to furnish pretty
maid in lieu of spot cash as backsheesh.
Debts, too, are frequently cancelled by
them in the same manner. Nor is this
last custom confined to the CircaSSians.
am told it is very often done in all parts
of the empire. There are no actual stats
ties available as to the number of Circas-
sian girls thus annually disposed of, but il
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 universally over
stated by European writers on the subject
From the best authorities | know thai
from ESQ to 600 Turkish (S220 to S440)
is the average price paid for pretty Cir
cassian maiden. n really beautiful wo
man fetches her price anywhere, of course
in London and Paris as well as in STAN
! boul, " was the way one of my informants
put it, land from f200 to $500 is thus of
ten enough paid for a real beauty. Blu
such prices are rare
! Compare this with the prices paid fol
Syrian girls (the second highest in de
mand) and for. Nubian girls. which are
still much lower, and~one must own thai
! Constantnople is not the best market fol
/ female beauty. The trade 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
"off Color" i. e., their compilations are
about as light brown as that of an Ameri,
can quadroon girl They have generally
good figures while young. but age more
rapidly than their Circassian sisters. From
! f20 to ESQ is considered an average 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 &c and f20 Evidences OF
/ this trade. all secretly carried on. will
come to the notice of any observant Euro
| pean who STAYS for some time in the coun
/ try, and enough of them came. as said
/ TO the observation of the commission. Fe
male slaves would now and then come tC
/ them for aid to obtain their liberty and in all
! such cases, after going through the usua
! formalties of APPLYING for her emancipa
/ ton papers. the girl or woman was grant
| ed il by the Turkish authorities, due, OF
course. only to the active interference Of