SLAVES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Waikato Independent, Volume VI, Issue 383, 8 June 1907, Page 5

SLAVES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

A correspondent at Vancouver (British Columbia) tells of the sale of an Iricßan girl for 400dol. at Kingcombe Inlet. #Mr Ct. W. Bebeck, a former Indian agent, commenting on this fact, says:—" It is, and has been for years, the custom among': these Indians to make slaves of their women, buying and selling them as you would a'cow or a pig. In early days, when women were not so valuable as - they are at present, the girls were kept on hand until they were twelve or thirteen, but of late years, owing to the - frenzied state of finance among the Bed- ■ skins caused by the potlach, they are sold as soon as the buyer can be found. It is seldom now that one reaches the . age of twelve without being Wned into cash. Another custom among these people is to turn out a woman when she is old and ugly and unable to earn money for her master; a younger and. betterlooking woman takes her place. About !■ a year ago an affect was made to check - this brutal practice, and an Indian who' had just put.away a woman with whom he had been living over twenty years ••.. and taken a younger one was brought up • on a charge of bigamy. The case was. tried at Vancouver, and came to naught.'. rl feel sure that as soon as the real heads of the Govei-nmept know for certain that the charges a remedy will be ap-,, plied. It is'Vpry easy to prove that^ ; slavery of a very kind exists in British Columbig-' It is ..now for all who claim to be British Columbians to say whether this foul stigma is to rev ' main attached to the province or not."