Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-10-30
SLAVE SALES IN MOROCCO
Why Auctions Are Always Held After
Dark
There recently returned to London


There recently returned to London
gentleman, Mr.. G. Herbert
Phillips, who, in Che course Of ten
months wandering, spent nine or
ten weeks in the dominions Of the
sultan Of Morocco.
The house in which Mr. Phillips
stayed at Fee was the same as that
which Sir Euan Smith occupied
when he made his memorable visit
there, some few years back.
II asked my host, said Mr..
Phillips, whether there was slave
market at Fee, as 7 was curious, if
such were the case, to visit it. He
told me there was, and that be
would inquire when there would be
sale. The result of the inquiry
was that on the evening of Sunday,
May 81 last, / was conducted TO
what had the appearance OF an old
fashioned market place. There was
an open square, and rounl was
kind OF arcade in which the people
sat. The slaves, who were
Soudanese negresses, brought up
from the Soudan through the desert
in caravans, were ranged in recess
in the corner. The slave dealers,
healthy and substantial-looking men,
led out each of the slaves in turn,
and in Arabic shouted out the
merits of each These slave sales
are invariably held in the evening,
the idea being that II there are any
imperfections in face or figure they
are less likely to be noticed in the
twilight, Eight women and two
girls were offered for sale, and be-
fore the actual bidding commenced
the intending purchasers went up to
the recess in which the slaves were
waiting and examined them closely.
The first woman brought out was
one apparently about % years Of
age, although she might have been
less, as they age very quickly, She
was dressed in a kind of calico COW
ering with a girdle. There was bid
ding in the usual auction way, the
dealers going round and shouting
out the offers as they were made.
The bidding was, Of course, in
Moorish money, and the first woman
was bought for sum equivalent in
English money to nearly El0. Then
young girl of perhaps ten years
was sold, the price in her case being
about ELL. During al this I was
standing under the arcade, but be-
ing dressed in an ordinary English
tourist suit, I kept behind the Moors
who accompanied me- and, so far,
had been unobserved. I was aware
that the Moors object to any
stranger being present at these
sales, as they do not wish informa-
ton about the traffic to get abroad.
l had seen the two sold, and in the
case of the girl the scene was heart
rending, as she cried bitterly and
was greatly distressed. l could
stand it no longer, and walked out
into the middle of the square, and
the large attendance of Moors
present then saw that q European
was there. They gathered together
in little groups, there was hurried
whispering among them, the unsUIi
slaves were formally marched off,
and the Moors dispersed, most of
those present proceeding to the
great mosque near by.
Mr.. Phillips proceeded to point
out that it would have been useless
for him to purchase any of the slaves
and set them free. Besides giving
an encouragement to slave dealing,
it would be mistaken philanthropy
About two years ago European,
acting from the best motives, pUr-
chased through Moor at this same
slave market one OF these Soudanese
girls and gave her her liberty, but
as he could not provide for her per-
manentiy, and she could not go back
to her own country, the result was
denlOrable. London TelepraDb.