SLAVERY IN TOGOLAND

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 16

SLAVERY IN TOGOLAND

RELATIVES PUT "IN PAWN."

Though laws had been passed by the Germans, both in 1895 and 1902 suppressing all forms of slavery in Togoland, the report on the British mandated sphere of Togoland fo* 1922 states that. survivals of domestic slavery are still met with, ia the remote .parts of the country, says the "Manchester Guardian." It is impossible to furnish statistics, continues the report, owing to the careful measures adopted by the slaves them•elves and their masters to conceal their correct status. It. must, however, be remembered that this state of slavery does not entail that character of servility which arises in the ordinary sense of the word. In the past parties dealing in domestic slavery bound themselves to perform the following obligations:—(l) The master provided the necessities of life and paid taxes due from the individual ; (2) the slave was permitted t<i ro.irry, but the children remained under the domination of the master; (3) land for cultivation was granted, but the products thereof became the property of the slave.

In order to regain his freedom the slave and the master must present themselves to the chief of tho division and satisfy him that all obligations have been performed. » ■

Under the German occupation the pawn could not regain his freedom until his purchase-money had been refunded.' The principal causes of. slavery were, capture in warfare and putting - into pledge for -debt, where the debtor placed one or more of his relatives as a pledge to the creditor and. the slaves were released immediately on reimbursement. The party thus pledged lived with, the family of the creditor, and had to perform work equivalent to all members" of the 'family. The natives have been warned that should any cases of this nature conio to the notice of the' AdttiliiiiiU-tH|.vin tiie Lisiiiiet, eoia-isiwii *ltl lie i»v«sly'dealt, with,