New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
THE MODERN SLAVE TRADER.
How He Works-Traffic in Human Beings
the Most Profitable in the World.

1t is one of the delusions of modern civilization
that slavery does not exist But there are NINE IN fne
under the most hdeous form of forced labor, which
is only accentuated by the absurd attempts i, 10
make them officially free by means of legal docu-
ments couched in phraseology the negroes cannot
possibly understand says "Tit-Bits
typical slave traders country is said to exist IN
the Portuguese colony on the southwest coast OF
Africa. There immense cocoa plantations IN
the Portuguese islands of San Thome and Principe,
and to obtain abOrers for them there is group OF
dealers who make a speciality of providing negroes
These men organize special parties, who explore
the interior of African forests and seize hundreds
of unfortunate negroes. who are Immediately driven
back to the coast in a manacled condition. Whole
families captured and sold in lots, according 10
The irony of the whole traffic is that everything
is done a legal basis. There is special govern
ment agent at Angola, whose duty 1t is to prevent
the exploitation of slaves He, of course. Will not
admit that slavery exists Inc system IS S oo P
feet But the negroes think otherwise Ihelr fate
is one OF lifelong hard labor though they are en-
gagged as laborers on the panta4n 10 Iof eer1a soa
number Of years at what appears TO be reasoha-
bic wage This wage. it is alleged is never @ paid
get It At the point of the sword he signs an agree,
ment he cannot read, engaging himself body and
soul to the traders. Once on the island he never
leaves for the end OF his period of five seven
years the farce OF signing is again gone through
his life of hard labor. It very seldom indeed that
any of these slaves live to old age Five years is
generally enough for the strongest constitution.
TO avoid the paying of wages system of fines is
escape losing his nominal wage. Floggings are, Of
course everyday occurrences women omen sur sueI1ng m 1 as
in the fields. and even If the wretched creatures
could escape their guards they would be utterly un
able to leave the island Thus the geographical
position saves the owners thousands Of pounds.
King Leopold derives nearly f10G0000 each year
from his Congo property, and most of this huge
sum is according to missionaries and others, made
out of the blood and tears of helpless slaves VINO
are forced to bring in so much rubber each month
TO the Belgian monarchs agents. The same farce
of so-called voluntary signing on is gone through
here, and of course. certain price is paid for the
rubber. but the dealers are anything but extrava-
CANT when treating with natives. Not to put too
fine point upon it, the valuable product is obtained
for next to nothing by King Leopolds representa-
tives and the natives require persuasion to induce
them to find the rubber for the white man.
protest against the Congo atrocities. Very often
the persuaders have not stopped at torture and
Great Britain is sort of overload of Zanzibar, but
we still have great difficulty in putting down sav-
cry in the Suitan's dominions- The latter was edu-
Gated in England, and to certain extent sym
pathizes with British ideas Of freedom. But there
IS the revenue to be considered, and so slavery,
slightly disguised. exists in Zanzibar. Lately the
dealers have learned the Portuguese trick Of MAX
ing the negro sign ihdenture form, thus binding
himself to work for a nominal salary for certain
number of years.
The trade is of course the most profitable in the
world. for good slaves fetch tempting prices. and
after the human chattel is disposed OF the agent
has further interest in his 1t costs very
little to secure the victims, and owing to the
absence of railways the slaves are compelled to
march 10 their destination. Feeding is not seri-
will provide enough food for the "nggers.'
In the case of negro who looks likely to retain
his physical fitness until the end OF the journey
little trouble Is taken, and he is left to shift for
himself the matter of food. The weaklngs
however, must be fattened up. If possible and so
the dealer gives them some attention Even then
this means that his profits will probably be quad
rupled, the extra expenditure IS justified The
market prices Of slaves vary from 80 for weak
promise standing the strain of forced labor
Women cost between Is ana 80