HOW HUMAN BEINGS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1077, 18 March 1913, Page 4

HOW HUMAN BEINGS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD.

A revolting picture is painted by a correspondent of the Matin pt the slave traffic in Morocco.

Although the nefarious trade in human merchandise as practised by the corsairs and dhow mastersof the African seas, has long been stamped out, it still appears to flourish in the land of the Moors. Writing from Marrakesh, which is stated to be the centre of this traffic, the correspondent, a French lady doctor says The slaves conveyed by caravans from the Sus and Tafilet regions are quickly sold, either publicly in the market at Marrakesh, or clandestinely. Sales take place in broad daylight. Penned in boxes running around a covered gallery, which serves as a market square in rainy weather, the unfortunate human cattle are exposed for sale three times a week.

Little by little the square fills with potential purchasers. When all is ready, the dellals or auctioneers, arrive on the scene, and, with solemn prayer, open the market.

Prayers over, each dellal proceeds to sort his proper lot of slaves. He then replaces their miserable rags by a more decent attire, and followed close at his heels by the groups of men, women, and children, he walks around the market place crying the value of his wares.

Intending purchasers now and again stop the perambulation, and leisurely examine the teeth, the hair, the skin, and the limbs of the human animal which may have attracted their attention.

The bargain being closed, the sale is duly attested before the adouts, or notaries. The price varies according to the sex, age atd qualities of the slave. I have seen a man, twenty-four years of age, sold for 10s. Girls from ten to twelve years old fetch from to The highest price is paid for a woman who can cook.

It frequently happens that when a woman with a baby at the breast, or accompanied by a little child, is brought into the market, the buyer wishes to buy the woman only.

It is then that the most heartrending scenes are witnessed, as the weeping mothers are separated from their offspring with brutal violence.