SLAVE FREEING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 20

SLAVE FREEING

EESENTED IN. INDIA.

Those who are prone to-regard this world as so thoroughly civilised that old-fashioned, hair-raising adventure has been completely crowded out of reality "into, action .will "be, interested in this brief announceiiient issued fey. the India' Office,, states ifte ijphdon correspondent of tli? '.-San .Francisco Chronicle": "Government of Burma greatly regrots to fnforni Government of India that one of the parties emancipating slaves hap been attacked and that Captain West, a very gallant officer; a lance corporal, and one follower have bpen killed, three wounded, and civil interpreter missing. Detailed account not yat to hand, as compiunication only by^Jjelio. Reinforceinents diS7 patched." ' . . •

. Back ,of'i!)at .message lies pi ijile of sheer adyejjture 'tlijt would fit into any mediaeval settjiig. .In tlie north-east corner of Indijt... lies' a. yapt territory called tho Triangle, projecting into China and Tijje^t, \ybere slavery and hmnan sacri^cp st|]l flourish. Huch of that country Jiaa^ never been penetrated by. a white man until J,92p; 'when.Britain uuderto.olc to abolish slavery! Expeditions ;sinee theii have freed thousands of slaves,'by establishing^ then) on small farms and warning their former o.wnera not to recapture them on penalty of dire/punishment; The present expedition, >7hieh yras ottacked, had revisited territory to make ■ sure 'the former slave.s were . unniolested, ajid had atlvancefJirito tjje- country ->f the head-hiintiaig.Nagas. . "Every village," said the last report from this expedition, 15th February, "is guarded from sunset to midmorning, and the approaches are strewn with mantraps each night. Each adult male sleeps with arms by his side."

The Governor of Burma, Sir Harconrt Butler, addressing 100 Kachjn chjefs early in January, announced the tlecision of the British Government that '.'henceforth there must be no sale of slaves, nor gift of slaves, as part of marriage dowries ox- in settlement of feuds." Compensation promised. The task of giving effect to this older is provi<fi#g rf|»J4ife jHurfllsis,