ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 11

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

EXPEDITION'S GOOD WORK. RELEASE OF 4000 BURMESE, OFFICIALS BRAVE DIFFICULTIES. By Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright. A. and NJZ.-Sun. CALCUTTA. June 7. Slavery has practically ceased in Burma, More than 4000 slaves have been released and about 400 or 500 who remain are to be set free next winter. This is the result of tho efforts of an expedition composed of civilian and military police to the Triangle district. They journeyed under the worst climatic conditions and braved heavy rain and flooded rivers in an unknown country occupied by truculent tribes. Many thousands of slaves have been liberated in the States bordering on India, in tho east and west. These States are under native rulers, but are under the supervision or sphere of influence of tho Government of India. In the native State of Nepal, in Northern India, south of Tibet, some 60,000 slaves were liberated last year, owing to the enlightened action of its ruler, the Maharajah Sir Chandra Shum Shere. The liberation at one time of these slaves was then described as the most remarkable freeing of slaves the world had seen, and the least spectacular. The Maharajah studied the whole subject of slavery historically and in its economic aspect, and then summoned a national convention of Ministers, slaveowners and others, and appealed for the release of the slaves, in one of the finest speeches ever made on the abolition of slavery. Be also offered the slaveowners £150,000 toward compensation for the loss of the slaves. As a result nearly 5000 slaves were liberated freely by their owners, and compensation wa3 paid for over 40,000 others. Many of the slaves have remained with their former owners as paid workers. In the Hukawng Valley country of Upper Burma, 3000 slaves were freed last year, at a dost to the Government of India of £15,000, the prices ranging from £1 to £lO per slave freed, according to their ages. The expedition which went there to effect the liberation, under the leadership of Mr. J. T. O. Barnard, of the Burmese Civil Service, travelled through the wild country of the Nagas, who still practice head-hunting and tne sacrifice of human beings. The Government is trying to stop these practices. These districts lie beyond the northern terminus of the railway from Mandalay, near the headwaters of the River Irrawaddy. After tho release of these slaves the Burmese Government informed the chiefs in the Kachin Hills region that slavery in their territory must cease. Compensation would be paid. It was estimated that 5000 slaves would receive their freedom as a result of the efforts of the British Administration in Baluchistan. The ruler of Kalat, a powerful chief, announced the total abolition of slavery in bis territory.