How Slaves are Treated in Africa.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 213, 30 July 1887, Page 7

How Slaves are Treated in Africa.

Toward the end of May a female slave of one of the Arabs came and claimed refuge and protection in my station against the bad treatment she alleged she had received from her master. Unable to see any serious marks or blows, I only allowed the woman to remain until fhe was claimed personally by her master. On his arrival the next day, after vainly trying to buy the slave from him on behalf of the Congo free state, I handed her over to him, he naving promised that he would no longer ill-treab her or punish her for having claimed my protection, explaining to him distinctly that if fche returned to me with any signs of illtreatment I would never give her up again. Three days later this woman returned, her back one mass of welts and covered with blood, nearly naked. She threw herself at my feet and begged for refuge and protection, pointing to the flag of the state. On inquiry, not only of this poor slave, but of the natives, and even of some of the Arab's men, I gathered that this woman, on arriving at the Arab settlement, had been immediately stripped naked and bound to a tree, receiving one hundred blows eveiy day until she succeeded in making her escape on tho third day. — Congo Cor. " London Times."