Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/438

 85C NOETH-EAST AFRICA. against one another and waving his hand over thera, which I presume was a blessing. He then untied the cords and threads, meaning I suppose that another spiritual knot had been tied, and then abruptly snatched the handkerchief out of the bridegroom's mouth and spread it over his own knees. For the first time there was a silence as of hushed expectation ; then some silver coins, amoimting I should say to about ten shillings, were dropped into the handkerchief, and the priest rose suddenly, put some of the money into his pocket, and proceeded to ilistribute the rest among the minor officials, on which arose the most furious clamour and dispute how the filthy lucre should be divided. But order was some- how at last restored and the bridegroom got up and walked to the door. The bride, however, seemed more difficult to deal with. Her mother and two or three other women seemed to be packing her up in some mysterious way against her will, rolling her about on the bench like some bale of goods. At last in the midst of her struggles a man, I presume her father, rushed in, put her on his shoulder, and carried her off, followed by the rest of the women." * Slavery. Officially slave-dealing is strictly prohibited in Egypt as well as in the dependent territory of the Upper Nile basin. In virtue of previous conventions made with England personal servitude should have already been completely abolished by August 4, 1884, within the limits of the Khedival possessions. But the articles of these treaties have remained a dead letter, and the representatives of Great Britain, now paramount in Egypt, have limited their action to the despatch of a circular recalling the law imposed on the Khedive. It seems pro- bable that they will observe in this respect the same reserve that Gordon did in Eg}'ptian Sudan, leaving to the owners the absolute possession of the men and women acquired by capture or by purchase. If the slave-markets are closed the traffic goes on all the same, while the grandees always find the means of procuring eunuchs to look after the women of their harems. The maintenance of slavery in Egypt is necessitated by these very harems, whose mysterious regime could not be enforced xi'ith servants free to break their contracts at pleasure. At the same time it is certain that outside the palaces of the highest Mohammedan circles, domestic service is gradually replacing slavery. All Negroes who apply to the police for their " paper of freedom " obtain it, and may take up any industry in any place they choose. Thus the Western conquerors, like their Arab and Turkish predeces- sors, have introduced a new social organisation. " It should also be stated that in Egypt, as in most other Mohammedan countries, the slaves are usually treated with great kindness. They are regarded as useful members of the household by the head of the family, whose interest it is to look after their health, and make them feel as satisfied as possible with their position. The more content with their lot, the more willing they are to work, and they thus gradually learn to identify their interests with those of their masters. Hence they • "Tho Land of Kh«<nn," p. 164 et $eq.