The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-22
MIGHT INVESTIGATE THIS.
Slaves Bought and Sold in Egypt,
ElgIald'S Dependency.


Pretty Girls Sold in the Cairo Na-ts.
The Traffic Carried on in Secret, an
Official Being Charged With syste-
matte Violation of British Regula-
tions-TH Treatment Rare Among
the odaHsques.
From the New York Journal
A great scandal has just arisen in Cairo,
the ancient and holy city of Egypt-a city
which, since coming under English dom
nation, is gradually being turned into a
winter capital for the millionaires of Eu-
rope The sensation has been caused by
exposures concerning the slave trade, of
which Ali Pasha is said TO be the head
and front. This Ali Pasha is president of
the Egyptian legislative assembly, the
parliament invented by the British in
vaders to lull the descendants of Pharaoh
into the delusion that they are governing
themselves. Ali is not only a shrewd old
politician, he is an amateur in girl slaves,
and complaint was recently lodged with
the Egyptian courts that he had been
aiding and abetting the Illicit trade in
young girls, both white and black, by con
ceallng them In his palace. OF course the
British officials in Egypt do not tolerate
any open slave traffic Severe laws
against the Introduction of black slaves
for the harems have long been in vogue,
yet such slaves are secretly introduced
into the country every week. The poor
creatures do not know that they have only
to appeal TO the courts to be set free at
once, and the person who has been detain-
ing them is likely to be brought before
court-martial if be is under Egyptian
jurisdiction.
Ali Pasha has set up a claim that he is
not amenable to Egyptian law for matters
concerning the internal arrangements of
his own household. He says that he was
naturalized an Italian subject in 1867, and
Will proclaim the protection of Italy if
the AngloEgyptian courts NEEDLE with
him. This will not hinder Egypt from
kicking him out of his place as president
of the legislative assembly and soundly
punlshing the slave dealers, who are i'm
plicated with him. Ali Pasha has un-
Willingly done the cause of civilization
good service by calling attention TO this
question of girl slaves, which must now
be settled for good
Egypt passed a law as long ago as 1928
declaring that no more white slaves
should be imported for the harems of the
country. But this was done to quiet west
ernlcriticism, and it was q dead letter. The
influence of Turkey is very great in
Egypt, and Turkey looked with disfavor
on any attempt to break up the harems in
the lands of the Pharaohs. Every body
knows that down to the end of his reign
in 1879 the NicorOy lsmael Pasha re
cruited his harem with choice lots of
Circassiau slaves of great beauty, and
that he was not interfered with.
TURKISH CRITICISM OF ENGLISH ACTION.
After the English had got a good
footing in Egypt they began to lberate
the Circassian women from the harems,
which gave great otfense to the high Egyp-
tian functionaries. 1t also annoyed the
Turks, who said that the invaders lib
Grated them and then induced them to
lead immoral lives" Here is a speci-
men of Turkish criticism by high Tur-
kish official:
may here say some words OF the efforts
which am told the English government has
made in Egypt for the adjustment OF slavery.
l think l need not state that am sincere
admrer of the principles which occasioned
them. but must frankly own that though the
ARRANGEMENTS made may be very good for the
negroes they cannot prodt the Circassians as
no ClrCaSSian would ever condeScend to go to
the slave home or work as "a servant. What
has, then, been the result: Hundreds Of
white slaves have gone to the police court for
their freedom, and from there have gone TO
the bad. In fact they only took their papers
with that intention, as no ClrcaSSlan ever
thought that slavery was a shame, or that it
was irksome N anv way; freedom to them
means nothing unless the freedom given is
accompanied by husband and home, and
they know very well that they cannot expect
these from the police court as no marriage
eau be valid with the paper taken from there.
They then only go there TO be free 10 act as
they like, and as what they like is not what
is good for them they have given bad repute
to the police court; and now no slave who re-
spects herself VIII go there.
Few western people ever understand
the real social position of a "slave girl"
in harem. The CircaSsian beauty who
has been sold as a slave is not an abect
and servile creature, trembling before a
brutal master. She is an ambitious and
cunning beauty, constantly plotting to
rise in the social scale. Marriage brings
her up in the world at once. Listen to tile
testimony Of a Turkish lady on this sub
leCt:
A slave coming into room, in an old fash
toned harem. will mix In the conversation
held there without any surprise being testi.
fed nor will any be felt This girl may be-
come LADY any day. and 10 treating her as
one beforehand we take OF very much OF the
awkwarlness which would else ensue. 10
this rapid change OF position 10 which all
Circassians arc liable, and which fills our
harems with Circassian ladies' as Wen as
slaves, may be traced the real cause Of the
want of power felJ by the Turkish girls.
Formerly a Turk rarely married his country
woman: on the principle. ! suppose. that
exchange is no robbery he would marry
Circassian woman slave and give his sister
to Circasslan man slave or to some penni-
less Circassiap sutaltsrn in the Turkish
army. This was caused by the innate love OF
mower existing IN both sexes. A Turkish girl
wedded to her equal would by the laws Of re-
ligion feel herself obliged TO treat her hus'
band with nearly servile respect while when
welded to one so decidedly her inferior she
would be mistress IN her own horse. aud
reigning supreme over her husband ana
slaves would never fear rival owever
this ended when our brothers went 20 Paris
and Oxford and we became civilized and
learned TO wish for better things Now Turk
ian ladies are always married 10 Turkish gen
tlemen and the Circassian harems are Dc.
coming scarcer. though orr fathers are stu
married TO Circa5sians and IN our hrst MONIES
slaNes are stlll more pOWerIuL ana VII proba-