The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08
AN AFRICAN SLAVE MARKET.
HUMAN BEINGS BOUGHT AND
SOLD IN MOROCCO.

The Trade In Christian Slaves Almost En-
tirely Stopped by Queen Victoria; but
Rumor Says There Are Even Now
white Women Secretly Held az slaves.
Slavery has been almost rooted out of
Africa, hut the Arabs remain slave traders
at heart, and. there is more buying and
selling even in this year of grace than most
people imagine.
Many Of Morocco's crumbling cities owe
their walls and battlements to the unremit-
ting labor of Christian slaves. There are
men still living and working who can re-
member the days when slaves were openly
bought and sold in all Morocco's coast
towns.
Thanks chiefly to the intercession OF
Queen Victoria this traffic was stopped in
the latter part Of the last century, and
to-day the slave markets OF, Morocco are
held either in the great capital cities or at
some Of the big country fairs. In Mar
rakesh, the Sultan's southern capital, you
can count slaves by the hundred: and dur
ing the two hours Of the daily sale the
transactions include scores Of human
beings.
/ may also mention q fact that is per-
lldpb IultC uuhuoWu III tUlb Country anu
seems to be a jealousy guarded secret in
Morocco, gays s. l.. Bensusan in the Wide
World magazine. 1t is that there are white
women slaves in several parts Of the ooun-
try; not Circassians, but seemingly women
from western Europe!
When the market Is about to begin a
dozen men Ale through the entrance. They
are the auctioneers, the dilals;, who have
been occupied with the representative Of
the Government, giving him a list and
description Of all who are to be offered
for sale.
This preliminary work lone they are
now coming to the serious business OF the
afternoon. They move in a line to a point
where there is some shade, and then they
turn toward the east, the sloping sun
behind them. The chief a%uctioneer now
offers UP an opening prayer.
He praises Allah who made the world
and gave the True Faith. He curses Satan
who has sought vainiy, but without ceasing,
to destroy mankind. He praises the patron
saint Of the city OF Marrakesh and calls upon
him to intercede with Allah in order that
all who buy and sell in the slave market
NAV have health, prosperity and length
of days.
Such are his appeals, delivered slowly,
soiemnly and with a certain measure Of
dignifed gesture; to one and all Of
them the dilals on either, hand and the
buyers sitting at their ease along the central
arcade or by the walls respond with a pious
amen" They hold it is no moro than q
seemly thing that business should COM
menoe with prayer, and the fact that the
business happens to be buying and selling
slaves does nothing to obviate She necessity.
Prayers over, the dilals break up and pro-
coed each to his pen, or pens, to summon
the occupants to range themselves in line.
For a few moments the confusion Is indie
scribable. The dilals rush hither and
thither, arranging their human .chattels
in groups. Then. having placed them
selves atthe head OF their respective groups.
they promenade slowly around the market.
We cannot watch them all, 80 we select
an average n containing a boy and a girl,
brother and sister, who have been brought
in by O caravan and are facing O slave
market for the first time in their lives.
Beside them are two vigorous men, two