LAST SLAVE MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1921, Page 7

LAST SLAVE MARKET.

THE HOLY CITY OF WAZZAN". The open slave market in the Holy City of Wazzan, Morocco, which was recently occupied by the French, is reputed to be the last of its kind in the world, according to a French officer who arrived in London yesterday from Fez. The slaves are brought to Wazzan by caravan from parts of the country still unexplored. The market is held annually during the pilgrimage season, when pious Moslems pour into the city from all parts of Morocco to ask for the Shereef’s blessing. At. this time Negro and Negress slaves are grouped together by their different owners on an open piece of ground. The buyers then crowd round and a#k questions about the age, health, and, in the. case of a woman slave, if she is married. The owner always says that his women slaves are unmarried, as single women usually fetch higher prices than married ones. Of course, there is always haggling over the price, especially if there is some physical defect, which is invariably the case. The teeth are inspected, arms are pinched, and a male slave is often asked to lift heavy loads.

Contrary to the general belief, the lot of a slave in Morocco is a comparatively happy one. All they have to dp is to escort visitors through the gardens which form part of the rich Moor’s estate. Another duty is to keep watch from a minaret for indiscreet strangers who pry into that part of the garden reserved for the women of the household. Indoors there are often as many as fifteen slaves all occupied, say, in preparing tea for the master’s guests. In Fez and Marrakesh women slaves are taught to dance, and their entertainment reminds an onlooker of the Arabian Nights. At present traders’ caravans are fight? ing shy of Wazzan, and no slaves have entered the city, since the French authorities prohibited their sale. Bv this means it is hoped to do away with the ’ slave traffic throughout .the European