The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-08-07
SLAVE DEALING w1NxED At.
An Ex-Consul General Of Tripoi Recites
His Experiences in Algiers.

OTTAWA, Canada, July2s.-"Cardinal
Lavigerie is bound to fail in his efforts
to put down the slave trade" said ex-
Congres ;man Vidal, who is staying in
Ottowa Just now Il Yves United States
Consul General in Tripoli ~ to 1877.
1 had not been in my position very lorg
before l discovered that Trlpo!i was the
centre of considerable trade in slaves.
The Arab merchants journey from Trl-
poll due South across the desert to the
Lake Tchad region. They carry per-
haps 100000 worth of goods for sale,
and it takes them probably three years
to dispose Of their wares. They then
begin their return journey. a caravan
will consist Of eighty or one hundred
men well armed. Just when they are
getting on the edge of the desert they
fall upon some peaceful native village,
slay all WHO oppose tieir designs, and
after beating people into subjection,
make all the living prisoners and drive
them across the desert to Trlpoll.
Il at once communicated the facts Of
this dreadful traffic to Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State. He replied that the
stateme 1t was u~eleSs unless supported
by affidav;ts. p ocured few affida-
Wits, bat with great d ficulty, as you can
well understand in country like that.
Mr.. Fish sent these to Sir Edward Thorn
ton, the British Minister at Washington,
and when they we're Brought to Earl
Granville'S notice, he appointed COM
mission to inquire into the allegations.
That commission never visited Trlpoll.
l understand they issued report, the
gist of which was that my statemen
had some foundation, but were very
much exaggerated.
"Now declare, with a full sense Of
my responsibility in making such a
declaration, that many of the British
officials in the East wink at the s:v:
traffic. Here are some of the facts: a
rich merchant of Tripoli was starting
for Constantirople. | knew &C Was
taking a lot of slaves with him. sent
my secretary to the shore with orders to
forbid the hoatmen rowing these poor
creatures ont to the ship. He did so,
and the boatmen deSiSted. The English
Consul General, Mr. Frank r. Drum
mord Hay, brother of Sir John Drum
mond Hay, then Consul Geneial at
Algicrs, was standing by and said to the
boatmen: Never mind what he says;
you have my authority to take these
people to the vessel, and the boatmen
took them. The steamers plying be-
tween Tripoli and Constantinople nearly
all call at Malta. The Governor Of
Malta and other British officials know
full well that almost every steamer call
ing there has slaves aboard, not down
in the hold in the old style, but travel
ing as passengers, and yet no move Is
Uuade to interfere with the traffic.
"Indeed, it seems to have their sym
pathy. On one occasion l was staying
at Malta, and at the same hotel was the
Governor of Trlpoli. In his retinue he
had number OF slaves, although slavery
is illegal in eli parts of the Ottoman en-
pire. l informed the Governor of Malta
that certain persons accompanying the
Tripo!itan Governor were slaves, but he
grew angry and said 1 had no locus
standi or authority outside of Tripoli,
and ordered me off the island under pain
of arrest. l intend attending Cardinal
Lavigerie's anti-slaycry Congress, and |
think | will open the eyes of some of
those who Will be in attendance"