SLAVES AND IVORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19765, 21 December 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

SLAVES AND IVORY.

A PROCESSION OF MISERY. “The largest slave caravans I have over seen arrived at Jlmma while we were camped there, waiting for our orders from the central Government, ;j writes Major Henry Darley, in his hook, “Slaves and Ivory.” h .VfttTt seems that the chief of Shoa Ghimoera, a district some 100 miles to the south, had been ‘removed’ by j ' orders of the new Government. He' was a rich man, and had at least iofm soldiers under him. On moving out he and his men carried off enormous ; numbers of his former subjects. j “I had no notice of the approach of j (Ills caravan, hut hearing a sound of many people going along the road, which stretched between my camp and that of the Fitaurari Alatl, I went out of my compound to see what was happening. “To my amzement I saw an unbroken siring of slaves, the men roped together, the women and children walking alongside, while the little babies unable to walk, and whose molhcrs 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 I tits of stick on the ground. “At nightfall the procession of misery halted, camped on the spot, marching on again at break of day. “For nearly four days they streamed along, i counted GOOO in the first two days. “Unfortunately I was then called away on other business, so I am unable to state exact figures, but il. must have been at least twice that number.” The above incident look place some years ago, and it will be borne in mind that the recent debate in the House of ■Lords showed thaL slavery conditions in Abyssinia have improved in recent years. Major Darley’s book is, however. of special value at this juncture because it throws light not merely on A'byssyiia but on the native peoples who live on Its frontiers. In view of the present situation Us appearance will be welcomed by those seeking information, for tho author’s first-hand experience Is of value as things stand to-day.