The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
SLAVERY IN WEST AFRICA
ENGLAND COULD STOP 1T BY CEAs-
ING PAYMENT OF SUBSIDIES.
FuIahs and Arabs Raid Neighboring
Pagan Negro Tribes for Their sup
pIy-MOsIems Most to Blame.
Pail Mall Gazette.

Pail Mall Gazette.
The recent successful operations on the
Niger, undertaken avowedly 10 crush the
two slave-raiding Mohammedan Emirs of
Nupe and Ilorin, and the proclamation of
Sir George Goldie, by which. in the terri
tory south of the Middle Niger and on the
banks of the Lower Niger, the status of
slavery has been abolished, have once more
brought before the public the vital ques-
ton of the suppression of the slave trade
in Africa The trade, as carried on in diff
ferent parts of Africa varies considerably
and the methods of checking it in one part
are, says Mr. A. f. Mockler- Ferryman, in
an interesting article on this subject in
Macmillan's Magazine, consequently not
altogether applicable to another. Still,
throughout the slave zone the main fea-
lures of the trade are the same; it is car
ried on almost entirely by Mohammedans,
be they called Arabs or Fulahs for the
purpose of supplying a. demand, which, in
spite of all our endeavors, appears to in
crease rather than to diminish This de-
mand is either external or internaE With
regard to the former, every effort is being
made by the East African squadron to stop
the export of slaves yet Turkey, Persia
and other Mohammedan countries are still,
by some means or other, we'll supplied with
Africans. Virtually, however, the external
trade is on the wane, and the matter of
slavery and the slave trade is confined to
Africa itself. That portion of the country
now under discussion is the central and
western Soudan (1nown also by the more
modern names of Nigeria and Hausaland).
comprising those Mohaminedan states of
the great Fulah empire which stretch from
To T,alx WI lie IN he
north of the, Middle Niger and Benue riv
ers. Probably in no part of Africa does
slavery exist to a greater extent than here,
and we have it on the authority of recent
travellers that at Kano. the principal Hausa
town. the slaves number four-ffths of the
population. In every town of any size there
is a public slave market, and to supply
these markets gives occupation to almost
every male Mohammedan; moreover, the
greater portion of the annual tribute pay
able by the smaller states to their SuZerains
consists of slaves. What becomes of all
these slaves is a question worth consider
ing, as before attempting to change this
state of affairs it is necessary to know why
there should be such an extraordinary de-
mand for human beings. A few slave car
avans cross the Sahara to the north, where
a ready sale is obtained for the survivors
of the gangs at the Mediterranean ports;
but, with this exception, no slaves leave
the country though this fact does not les
sen in any measure the evils of the trade.
The supply cannot keep up with the de-
mand raid as the MohammedanS Will, and
each year increases the amount of slave
raidingS. Mr.. Robinson, who furnishes the
most recent information on the subject.
says that during his residence in Kano he
had frequent opportunities of witnessing
the return of the Mohammedans from their
raids, and on one occasion he saw no less
than> a thousand slaves brought in by
single party Yet kano is no worse than
other states; everywhere are pagan free
men becoming scarce, and the price of
incentive n
raid, grows greater year by year.
AN ENORMOUS TRIBUTE.
The annual tribute required by the Sultan
of Sokoto from the Emir of Adamawa is
stated to be ten thousand slaves. These
unfortunate beings may possibly have been
captured on the eastern outskirts of Adam
ava, and therefore, before reaching Yola,
have passed through the terrors of a march
of several weeks; but no sooner have they
recovered from this than they are drafted
off to proceed by land to the F'ulah capital
OF these gangs it is no exaggeration to say
that one-half of them survive to reach
their destination. Strange as it may read,
the presence of the Royal Niger Company
in the country indirectly increases this
mortality, for the fact of the Benue and
Niger rivers being under its supervision
necessitates the conveyance of the slaves
by inland routes at a distance from water,
and the rivers can no longer be used as a
highway Tor the carriage or these species
of commodity. In reality, were the Niger
COmpanyS steamers to carry passengers
from one place to another making no in
quirieS and not misunderstanding the slave
trade, the saving of life would be enor-
nous; but, of course, such an idea could
not for a moment be entertained. Some
thing. however, might be done by the COM
panys steamers in the matter OF carrying
passengers which would indirectly affect
the slaves and the slave trade very consid-
eraby.
The subject may be conveniently dis
cuSSed under the heads of demand and sup
ply. AS to the demand, a certain proper
ton of the captured pagans are exported
to the north, and a still larger number pass
as tribute from the minor states to Sokoto
but the total of these two drains on the
supply is mere drop in the ocean of sla-
very. The bulk consists principally of
two classes-domestic slaves and salable
beasts of burden. The former become the
household servants, laborers. concubines
and harem attendants of their Moham-
Inedan masters, while the latter are en-
ployed by the merchants Tor the transport
of their goods, an additional advantage be-
ing that, as the merchant sells his wares,
he can readily dispose also of the slave
who carried them, and thus save himself
the expense of keeping him longer than
necessary. So, likewise, a traveller, jour
neying from place to place. takes with him
of his journey, selling them as required to
pay his bills: Thus the slave of the Sou
dan is an actual currency, and, in fault of
a better, fairly convenient and portable
one. With regard to domestic slavery,
when once the slaves nave settled down in
their new homes there is nothing very irk-
some in their existence, and this has often
been put forward as a reason for nonin-
reference. 1t is impossible, however, for
any one who knows how they arrive at this
state of comparative ease to- forget what
they have undergone to attain it.
DOMESTIC SLAVERY.
Pure domestic slavery as 1t exists in GER
tain parts of pagan West Africa, where
slave raiding on it's own account is I'M
known, and where the slaves are either
horn in servitude or captives of war is a
condition of things which it is perhaps diff
ficult to interfere with all at once and this
is very different affair from the domestic
slavery in Mohammedan countries. On the
west coast-the Niger coast protectorate,
for instance, where, among the pagans,
domestic slavery is in full force-the servi-
tude is of a very light description, and it
is no uncommon thing for slave by good
behavior to acquire land and wealth, and
even rise TO the position OF chief or king.
ia ia of Opobo, Waribo and Oko Jumbo
of Benny, Yellow Duke of Old Calabar and
William Kia of Brass may be mentioned
as men who have risen from SerVitude to
be chiefs of the people. In the Moham-
medan countries nearly all the domestic
slaves are products of raiding; there is con-
sequently no bond of union among them
tribes, not even speaking the same lam
guage. and they have little in common with
each other or with their masters. What
their condition is deDendS entirely on their