The Poole Telegram. — 1886-01-08 (Poole, Dorset, England)

TRAFFIC IN SLAVES.  A correspondent, writing from Tangier, says : There are no authentic records as to the precise date • when negro slavery first became a practice in Morocco;; ; there is no doubt, however, that it has prevailed from a very remote period. The fact that slavery still exists in this country, in spite of the close proximity , to Europe, has excited continual, though unsuccessful, ' remonstrances from the British Government The , gradual abolition of enforced servitude should be , insisted on in riturn for the protection which is accorded to the Moorish potentate. Such representatiohs would, no doubt, be met by evasive replies and temporising policy, It must be understood, therefore, that there is not the sliAtest hope of effecting a diminution in the slave traffic unless the Powers who should unite in remonstrating should also firmly agree to insist on compliance with their demands. August or September is the time ustially *elected when traders congregate from different parts of the Empire, and the vast utiexplored tracts which lie southwards, to barter slaves, ostrich feathers, gold dust, and different kinds of gum, for Manchester goods, iron, tea, sugar, steel bars euth ry, Ste. The slaves are brought from the Western Soudan or from Timbuetoo, and, after being pm-chased, are forwarded in gangs to different towns in Morocco where slave markets are held. It is said that many of the newly-imported negioes die of nostalgia, but if they survive the first few months they generally adopt the Mohometan religion, settle down in their new life, and become fairly happy. The number of slaves imported annually has been estimated at from 3,000 to 5,000, but 4,000 might be considered as anout the average. The ordinary price of a full grown male negro varies from £l5 to £2O. Children are sell, according to their age, at from £3 or £4 upwards. Good-looking female slaves often fetch far more than the men, when they are purchased as concubines for their Moorish masters. A special commerce of a very revolting nature exists in negro boys destined to become the future guardians of Moorish harems, but the high price paid for the wretched lads, being three times that of an ordinary slave, makes the traffic in eunuchs too lucrative to be neglected by the slave dealer. The extent to which the traffic is carried on may be judged from ths fact that about two years and-a-half ago a gang of fifty boys were taken up to Mequinez to become custodians of Moorish female virtue. The high priers given for female slaves possessed of personal attractions has tended to induce a custom, which in some districts is very prevalent, of fathers selling their own daughters born to them by slave concubines; and not only this, but it has fostered to an appalling extent the crime of child stealing, which is so common in Western Barbary. Children of the free white inhailitants, without the slightest negro taint, are continually kidnapped, taken to some remote district, and sold as slaves. Though less frequent on account of its attendant difficulties, it often happens that the victims are grown up white girls, who by the aid of a female accomplice, are decoyed from their homes, then seized, and harried off by force to a distance, and eventually become the property of a Moor who desires an addition to his herein. As an instance of the audacity with which acts of this kind are perpetrated, a case occurred in which three white girls, from about 17 to 20 years of age, who had been kidnapped, were publicly exposed for sale. This occurred little more than three. years ago in the town of Laraiche, a place occupied by several European residents.—Globc.  li PA TA L TERMINATION _TO A CHRISTMAS  • Dr. Danford Thomas held an inquest on Saturday at the St. Pancras Coroner's Court on the body of Mrs. Emma Giblett, aged 02, a widow, residing at No. 144, Junction-road. John Morrie Islip, a pawnbroker, of Redhill, Surrey, stated that deoesmed was his stint, and on imxing Day she was entertaining a number of friends, appearing in costume as winter. She.was dressed in a white robe of thin fabric, and stood under a canopy from which fell pieces of cotton Wodl to represent snowflakes, and in their descent one of them Caught light at the candelabra, and fell at deceased'a feet., In trying to put it out with her foot her dress caught light, and she was immediately enveloped in flames. So inflammable was the material that, although prompt assistance was rendered, she was so severely burnt as to become unconscious. A ittedical man was sent for, and everything possible was done for her ; but she sank gradually, and died from exhaustion.—The Coroner read a letter front IJr. Marshall, who stated that he had attended the deceased from the time of the accident to her death, which was from shock and exhaustion following injuries by burning. The jury returned their verdict accordingly.  671L0 ETCHED TO DEATH (inSattirdity night, Margaret gossack, with her infant child, aged nine months, named Helen, went to visit some friends in Hospital-street, Glasgow. She met a woman namedlMargaret McGillory, with whom she quarrelled. From words they came to blows, and the child was knocked to the ground, and it is alleged that McGillory gave it a kick. The child died shortly afterwards, and the police surgeon found a severe abrasion on its neck, evidently caused by the toe of a boot. Both women were apprehended on Sunday, charged with jointly causing the death of the child. A young married woman, named Elizabeth Weedner, of Stourbridge, has committed suicide by taking nitric acid. Her husband tried to prevent her, and burnt his fingers with the liquid, but she died before assistance arrived. She attempted suicide last July. A. shocking tragedy was reported on Saturday from Marseilles. In the theatre at that town a gentleman seated in the stalls drew a revolver from his pocket and blew out his brains. It transpired that he was in love with an actress, who was performing while the deed Was committed.