The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-29
HOW HAREMS ARE RECRUITED.
The High Prices Paid for Girls I'm the
Eurkish Slave Market

The High Prices Paid for Girls I'm the
-Nurkish Slave Market
The slave trade is the chief source of
recruits for the Turkish1 harm. All as
scrtions TO the contrary notwithstand-
ing, 1t still fourishes in the city of the
sultan. The headquarters of the white
slave trade are in the Bostanchi quar-
ter, which comprise number of small,
narrow streets between gPera, Galata,
and Tophane. The trade is conducted
almost exclusively by q tribe of Tcher-
kcsses known as Tessirdchis. Families
generally work together. One brother,
for example, stops at home and
minds the shop while the others
go abroad and purchase and forward
the raw material of the commerce.
Negotiations with purchasers are
conducted through the intermediary of
Arab brokers. who call regularly on
their tpatrens to inquire if they are
wanting anything in black eunuchs or
white girls-just as Manchester COM
mission agents drum for orders among
merchants and shippers, and like them
they are remunerated by percentage on
sales.
The rendezvous of these gentry is
coffee-house in the Bostanchi quarter,
the entry TO which is strictly forbidden
TO .alt save followers of the prophet.
TO obtain trustworthy information rs
TO current iprices is naturally in these
circumstances attended with some diff
ticulty, but approximately, and as
nearly as SCAN be ascertained, they arc
rs follows: A white boy in good health,
from eight to fourteen years old, costs
eight to ten dollars; If he has any &C
quirements. such, for instance, as a
knowledge of cookery or other house
work, he viii command twice as much.
A girl under 10 years old may be had
Cor 81, while a maiden between 12 and
as, especially if she can read or write
and strum little on the litter is
worth 81, 900. A female slave of excep-
tional beauty, young, white, and vir-
gin-the style most in vogue are
blondes with black eyes-fetches from
5000 tos7, 800. For very choice speoi-
men, with smattering of French and
able to play few airs on the piano. a
rich amateur has been known to nay
as much as slS,500. But, as NAV be
supposed, the demand for articles of
:his description has greatly fallen off
since the halcyon time of perpetual
loans and profase expenditures
Black slaves, who are brought princi-
pally from Africa, are either sold direct
by the importers to the proprietors of
hsrens or to dealers, two of whom have
extensive private marts- in STEAMBOAT.
These two generally keep on hand 100
10 go each. There are also depots in
scutari and in several villages on the
Bosporus. A strong, black slave sells
Cor about 500; black maiden, SIS to
900.
. The Turks themselves sec no more
wrong IN slavery than in polygamy 1t
Is permitted by their religion. and en-
joys the sanction of ancient custom: il
Is inseparably associated with their So
eial hab bits, and. in spite OF all the pro-
tests of the Christian powers. will en-
6ure as long as the Osmali rule in SIAM
boul. But let us do one justice the un-
epeakable. He treats his slaves well.
He not rarely marries them, and many
a man born in bondage has risen to the
highest offices of the state.-Chicago
Times