LAST SLAVE MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 13

LAST SLAVE MARKET.

THE HOLY CITY OF WAZZAN

The open slave market in the Holy City of Wazaan, Morocco, which wae recently occupied by the French, is reputed to be the last of its kind in the world, aocording to a French who arrived in London recently from Fez. The slaves are brought to Wazzan by caravan from parts of the country 9tRI unexplored. The market is held β-u----jiually during fche pstlgrnmgo seaaoo, when pious Moslems pour into the city from all parts of Morocco to ask for the Shereaf'R bles6Jng. At this time N r| egro and N'cgrese staves sure grouped together by their different owners on an open piece of ground. The buvera then crowd round a»d ask questione about the age, health, and, in the case of a woman slave, if she ifi married. The owner always coys that ibis women slaves are still unmarried, as single women usually fetch higher prices than married ones. Of course 1 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, land a malle er&ve is often asked to lift heavy loads. Contrary to the general belief, the lot iof a slave in Morocco is a comparatively ! happy one. Ail they have to do is to I escort visitors through the gardens

I which form part of the rich Moor's estate. Another duty is to keep ' watch from a mmaret for indiscreet stranger* who pry into that part of the garden reserved for the women of the household. ludoore there are often as many aa 13 slaves all occupied say in I preparing te.a for their master's guests. iln Fez and Marrakesh women slaves axe ■' taught to dance, and the entertainment I reminds an onlooker of the Arabian i Nights. I At present traders' caravans are fighting shy of WsLzza,n, a.nd no slaves have entered the city since the French authorities prohibited their sale. By this mea.ns it is hoped to do away with the slave traffic throughout the European zones.