Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2: Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's GovernmentRichardson, James
History
Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2: Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government
Richardson, James
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Africa, North -- Description and travel; Richardson, James, 1806-1851
Ajouza, old women, not classified.
1st. Shamalia: those with the breasts hanging down.
2d. Dabukia: those with the breasts plump.
3d. Farkhah: those with little breasts.
4th. Sadasia: girls, smaller.
5th. Hhamasiah, or children.
The best of the slaves now go to Niffee, to be there shipped for
America; they are mostly males, of the class 2d, 3d, 4th, and are
minutely examined before departure. From all reports, there is an
immense traffic of slaves that way exchanged against American goods,
which are driving out of the markets all the merchandise of the north.
_Prices:_--I. MALES.
1st. From 10,000 to 15,000 wadâs.
2d. 30,000 and under.
3d. 35,000 "
4th. 30,000 "
5th. 20,000 "
II. FEMALES.
1st. 10,000 and under. (Ajouza.)
2d. 80,000 "
3d. 100,000 "
4th. 40,000 "
5th. 30,000 "
6th. 20,000 "
The above are the prices of Kanou; there is sometimes a difference of
5,000 or 10,000 wadâs. A remark suggested by this list of prices is,
that the value of human merchandise is determined by its present
adaptation for consumption. No allowance is made for capability of
development, intellectual or physical. Slave-drivers and slave-holders
believe as little in a future here as hereafter.
I give another account of the prices of slaves at the principal markets
in this part of Africa, and at Smyrna and Constantinople. A good male
slave is sold, at
Kanou, for 10 or 12 dollars.
Zinder, the price varies little.
Mourzuk, for 40 dollars.
Tripoli, from 60 to 65 dollars.
Smyrna, 90 to 100 dollars.
Constantinople, 90 to 100 dollars.
A good female slave is sold, at
Kanou, for 32 dollars.
Zinder, a little more, or the same.
Mourzuk, 85 dollars.
Tripoli, 100 dollars.
Smyrna, 130 dollars.
Constantinople, 130 dollars.
This is merely to show the difference of prices at these various places
of slave traffic, and so enable the reader to form some notion of the
profits of the commerce.
I am very sorry to hear of the iniquitous manner in which slaves are
captured for the supply of the north at this present time. It appears
that, now all these populations are Muslims, it is difficult to get up
the war-cry of _Kafers!_--"Infidels!" What is then done? The sultan of a
province foments a quarrel with a town or village belonging to himself,
and then goes out and carries off all the people into slavery. Thus acts
the present Sultan of Zinder, and so did his brother during his year of
administration. To appease the Sheikh of Bornou they send him a portion
of the spoil. Indeed, the Sheikh countenances the system, so detrimental
to his interests as a sovereign, and so immoral in its character. The
brother of the present sultan was accustomed to go out every month, and
bring in razzias of slaves, particularly to Dura, a country which
belongs half to the Sheikhs of the Fullans. The real Kerdi people are
now very distant, and you must go many days' journey if you will catch
genuine Kafer slaves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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