The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-05-08
MOROCCANS STILL
PRACTICE SLAVERY
Districts Still Unimbued
With Civilized
Notions

MELlLLA. Morocco. May 7.
Slavery and trading Ia slaves s;ll
flourish in the unconquored districts
OF both the French and spanish
zones Of Morocco. There hnyo been
stories that some of the slaves are
white people bnt these reports are
not borne out 10y inquiry.
Threats by the turbulent Moors of
tho Riff coast TO sell into slavery
spanish sailor boy, Francisco Snllud.
unloss his father with whom he had
been wrecked and captured paid a
ransom of 1000 pesotas led The As
ISOLATED Press correspondent to
make an inquiry into the question of
The existence of cnslaved white peo.
pie In northern Africa.
The result OF his Inquiries shows
| hat of recent years instances Of
white people being sold into slavery
have been very rare. but there are
slave markets for the sale and pur-
chase of colorcd people IN the dis
tricts to which French or spanish
rule have not reached.
The traffic varies according to
the economic situation % the tribes
mon who, when they are IN funds,
do not hesitate to give high prices
for slaves TO be used as servants,
Sisv,s 40 purchased become por-
sonal property OF the family into
which thev are bought and are dis
posed of by testament when the pro
prietor dies.
Freed at Masters Death.
However, Il IN customary for the
purchaser to mako formal agree
ment before competent legal au-
thority To grant his slave his iibcr-
~ on his masters death, when tho
hcirs have to give up all claim and
at the same time to allow the lib
Grated slave to live on and cultivate
any portion OF his dead master 4
land which may have been left TO
him as ono OF the family.
\ slave owner mRv give his slave
n wife from among his other slaves
bought in the Same way and the
children ~ these marriages become
slaves OF the same owner unless he
has signed the agreement already
mentioned in connection with their
parents.
The prices paid for slaves vary
considerably. Generally the age Is
tho chief considerati tion but girl
slaves, beauty calls for the highest
prices. Seven hundred and fifty
pcsotas (about 500 at the present
rate of cxchange) is about the max
imum figure ever pald-and this
only in the ease OF a very young and
handsome girl should the human
} merchandise have passed the age of
30 10 40 the price paid IL round
about 400 pcsctas. never more.
Examine Their Teeth.
An purchases are mado condition.
! ally ON the slaves proving satisfac-
tory \ close examination Is made
OF the slaves mouth TO see whether
no or she possesses a complete sci
OF teeth, Proofs are required thal
tho slave liz neither weaksigh,ed nor
deaf and dumb. while limbs are test
ed and muscles tried aud every par
of tho body subjected Ia minute in.
spectinn IN order 10 discover physi.
cal def cts.
For women slaves three days
trial Of their domestic aptitud,s is
demanded before the purchase Is
completed.
Such arc the conditions ~ che
slave trade in Morocco AZ the pres
cnt day, and this is the fate from
which Francisco Sallud escaped
probably by the payment OF part OF
tho ransom demanded, although cN.
act Information as to the transac'
tion is unavailable