CAPTURE OF A TURKISH SLAVE SHIP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 217, 22 October 1878, Page 6

CAPTURE OF A TURKISH SLAVE SHIP.

According to the letter from Alexandra in the Allemeine Zeifung, a Turkish slave ship was captured the other day by an Euglish vessel, and the. slaves it, contained, consisting of seventy women and ten men, were liberated. The men volunteered into the Egyptian army, but it was more difficult to dispose of the women, as they, had no notion of liberty, and if left to themselves would probably have beeu drafted without making any resistance into some Mussulman's harem. Under the treaty concluded between the English Government and the Khediva tha importation and the exportation of slaves ia forbidden; the detention and sale of slaves in tha country ia permitted for about six years longer in E#ypf, and eleven in Soudan. Several officers accordingly came to the pasha of the district with offers to buy some of tha female slaves, but he declared he would not part with them unless tbey got married. He then announced that any soldier or civilian wishing to marry any of the slaves, would have to puy six thalers for har dowry, but that the women would ba allowed to choose their husbands from among those who should present themselves for the purpose. A great number of men, chiefly soldiers, assembled on the day appointed for the selection. The women were so shy that they "huddled together like a flock of sheep," and could not be induced to move. At last one of them, taking courage, advanced slowly to a black Egyptian sergeant, who was anything but young and handaome, and put her hand on his shoulder as a sign that he was tha man she wished to murry. He example was instantly followed by the other women, who rushed forward to choose their husbauda as if they feared to be 100 la f ,e. It was vow the men's turn to say wnether they accepted the selected. All werß satisfied but five, and even tha five women who were consequently obliged to choose again were ultimately provided with husbands.