Slaves and Ivory

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 3

Slaves and Ivory

“The largest slave caravan I have ever seen arrived at Jimma while we were camped there, waiting for our orders from the central Government,” writes Major Henry Barley, in his book, “Slaves and Ivory.” “It seems that the chief of Shoa Gliimoera, a district some hundred miles to the south, had been ‘removed’ by orders of the new Government. He was a rich man, and had at least onthousand soldiers under him. On moving out, ho and his men carried off enormous numbers of his former sub jects. “I had no notice of the approach of this caravan, but hearing a sound of many people going along the road which stretched between my catnp_ and that of the Eitaurari Alati I went out of my compound to see what was happening. “To my amazement I saw an unbroken string of slaves, the men roped together, the women and children walk ing alongside, while the little babies unable to walk, and whose mothers were exhausted, were strapped on the backs of mules, -three or four at a time.

“Each soldier conducted his own little mob. I marked the hundreds by throwing bits of stick on the ground. “At nightfall the procession of misery halted, and camped on the. spot, marching on again at break of day, “For nearly four days they streamed along. I counted six thousand in the first two days. ,

“Unfortunately I was then cal'.cd away on other business, so I am unable to state exact figures, but fit 'must have been at least twi.’.e that number.”

The above incident took place some years ago, and it will be borne in mind that the recent debate in the House of Lords showed that slavery conditions in Abyssinia have improved in recent years. Major Barley’s book is, however, of special value at this first-hand experience is of value as things stand to-day.