The searchlight., 1911-11-17

" slave trading along the
northern coast Of Africa will
receive severe-it is hoped fatal
blow. Tripoli is the chief Mediterran-
can gateway to the Sahara. Her
trade in the past has been largely In
negroes brought across the burning
sands. with other Sudan produce. for
the Turkish markets. The dealer in
human flesh has looked upon Tripoli
as his natural clearing house for the
spoils OF the man hunt. The sultan.
the pashas and the other jealous hus
bands OF from four to four hundred
wives in Constantinople have long re-
garded Tripoli as the unfalling source
of supply Of eunuchs and other slaves
so essential to the peace and happi-
ness OF their harems. When this last
gateway leading from the northern
coast OF Africa to the slave markets of
of the present war between Italy and
the Ottoman empire what will become
OF the infamous slave raiders so long
engrossed in the rise and fall in the
price OF human beings?
From time immemorial slaves. suf,
fering inconcelvable torments. have
been brought across the Sahara from
the Sudan.
You will find an occasional Arab." I"
writes Charles Wellington Furlong. in
his recent volume. entitled "Tripoli:
The Gateway to the Sahara" who
will tell you OF route known only TO
the Senussi. that large fraternity of
Moslems located in Tripoli. who make
proselytlng wars and expeditions from
Wadai 10 their capital.
Along this route II is said that
never fewer than fifteen caravans
cross the desert every year. which
bring about 10000 slaves alive TO tell
the tale. and they estimate that 10000
victims fall on the march. Once on
the secret route you cannot fail to
find your way. for II is lined with .hu-
man bones"
Listen TO a story told by a slave
who escaped from his prosecutors and
related TO Mr.. Furlong the details OF
his maddening experience:
Il was among those captured and
taken to Lilahni. The journey was
hard: some OF the slaves attempted to
escape and were clubbed to death.
i was then IA years old and valuable.
We passed many caravans. Some OF
the slaves were bound with thongs
or under heavy yokes. One method
was TO fasten from ten to twenty
slaves together. one behind another.
by showing their heads through holes
cut every few feet in a long wooden
yoke. Sometimes one Of these human
strings thus fastened together would
make futile attempts oescape. pain
fully jogging in step through the bush
or forest until soon run down by their
merciless pursuers."
Horrible Scenes In the Desert.
Now and then as they staggered by
one saw a man or woman. too weak
and exhausted TO walk. hanging limp
by his neck. his feet dragging along
the ground. his dead weight adding to
the insufferable tortures OF the others
hitched to the same yoke. AT such
times" writes Mr.. Furlong. unless
near a market, the sick are dispatched
by their drivers. who. not wishing the
trouble of unshackling a wretch. re,
sort to the simple expedient of de,
capitation, thus releasing soul and
body at one cruel stroke"
The slave traders started to take
their human prey across the great sol
ftary place in the NTH month OF the
dry season. They stopped one night
With a group Of travellers. The slave
who is telling the story wore q tribal
mark. II the chief Of the other travel
rors with whom the slave traders
leamped had caught a glimpse of thi,
naSk his party would have destroyed
Ithe Shave caravan The master Of the
lcaravan knew this. hence the slave
;vas gagEed and done up tightly IN on
~ the camel looas.