Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-09-24
WALTER BLOOMFIELD

crowd OF petty chapmen strangely APP
pareled. all pressing closely to get a
view OF me. was very slow. but
would not. II could have fastened Il.
for the sense OF liberty. the curious
scene. and the conversation OF Sir
Roe were delightful to me.
or Anita and her maid Sir Thomas
could unfortunately tell me nothing.
The usual course. he said. with female
captives was 20 submit them to the
Mistress OF the Uarem for examina-
ton. and n. in the judgment OF that
lady they were sufficiently young and
beautiful they were received into His
Majesty's hareIn. wnfle such IA failed
TO present the necessary yOuthfuIness
and beauty were sent 20 the slave mar
kct and sold. He promised to institute
IN inquiry concerning them that same
day, but warned me that he was un-
able 10 afford them any protection fin
whatever circumstances they might
be placed. as they were neither OF
them English subjects.
The house Of Sir Thomas Roe was
large. square and low. with wide yer
andas on every side. 10 was in the
middle Of a garden on the side or
hill and<overlookcd the sea. The dc
mesne was surrounded by a thick wall
so high that the house could scarce be
seen from the outside We were no
sooner entered within the gates than
n swarm OF slaves crowded about US.
and our jaded horses We're half led.
half pulled. toward the house. I was
about 20 dismount when n stalwart
negro threw himself upon the ground
right I'm my way. his legs and arms
doubled under him In curious fashion.
and the surface Of his back presented
upward. Hesitating Tor a moment. in
doubt what this might mean I no.
uced another slave behave In a similar
manner I'm front OF my companion.
who proceeded at once TO dismount.
using his slave rs we In England use a
stepping stone. / copied his example.
but with an IN grace for Sir Thomas
snilingly observed. Il perceive by
many signs that you are newly ar
rived IN Turkey"
As soon rs we had refreshed our
selves with sherbet And fruits. Sir
Thomas Roe himself conducted me 20
n room. where I saw. standing one
upon other on the floor. the ten black
chests. each bearing my name. appar-
emily la the same state as when / last
saw them In my cabin aboard the Or.o
Malipictro. and there also was my
girdle fun Of money. my papers. and
the pistols which Signor Simona had
given me-
"AIr. Trueman." said my host. 80
the contents Of your chests had been
known 10 Your captors. 7 fear nothing
could have done would have saved
them from conhscation As e. was
my knowledge OF Won was acquired
barely IN time 10 help YOU. for tho
public disturbances having now sub
sided. your effects would soon hav,
been examined. with what result yoy
may guess. On learning that youi
usage was the best which the Port,
allows 90 any prisoner thought it pru
dent 20 make your property my frs
care. and accordingly obtained laS
night an order from the Grand Nizlel
that It should be placed In my charge
and behold IL before You as / receive,
| il. Examine &c all carefully at YOU
F leisure. FOR / must now 20 Seraglio
whore l VIII inquire concerning th'
two Venetian ladies' your fellow pas
I Sengers. and Of the Venetian merchan
+ whose sequis you say these are. Mean
while You must consider my houS
and servants as your own" At theS
words my noble benefactOr left me
and I proceeded TO carefully scruti
nize each chest. None of them ha,
been tempered with in any way. the.
were all Of the proper weight ard tn
scsinous black paint with which eacI
was covered had scarce received
I scratch. Ny money. too. was equal
safe and correct nine hundred an
forty-four pounds. all told. shown
that my expenditure since / left Eng
land had amounted 70 no more tina
nifty six pounds.
After an absence OF several hour
Sir Thomas Roe returned. and I PEI
ceived at once from his countenanc
that he bore no good news, The tw
Venetian ladies'" said he. you are nc
likely 10 see again. I have spoke
with the chief eunuch. who has cor
ferred with the Mistress of the Hs
rem. and learn that both ladies wer
rejected - unworthy OF the SultaI
and ss.s1 to the slave market for SALE
I b,-Se been TO the slave market. an
liked with the merchants there. an
am told by them that the younger q
the two ladies was bought by an oil
merchant from Alepp0 for two hun
dred sequins. but that she protested
dumb show so pathetically again:
! Loir,r. r,n,.tod from hnr. mistress II