Although the history of North-eastern Africa is very imperfectly recorded, it is certain that Carthage, Egypt, and Ethiopia, early acquired and long maintained a prevailing1 influence therein. The Carthaginians possessed2 themselves of nearly the whole of the northern portion, whilst the Egyptians and Ethiopians occupied the east to the very centre. The extension of these great empires tended considerably3 to limit the trade in human flesh, and the world being in feud4 in every quarter, needed not to be supplied with slaves from Africa.
But this aspect of affairs was materially altered so soon as these three empires, losing their power, became subdivided5 into sundry6 governments, the diffusion7 of Christianity and civilisation9 in Europe and Asia meanwhile restricting the slave-trade to the African continent. Although not generally representing the character which their name implies, the Christians10 of the Occident11 and Orient had at least given up the system amongst themselves; and by the former especially it was very little practised until after the discovery of America, when it was revived and encouraged by the Spaniards; and the Negro being considered better fitted for hard labour than the aborigines of the New World, Africa began to be regarded as the slave-mart for the whole universe. About the same period Ethiopia was first invaded by numberless hordes13 of Pagan Galla, migrating from the south; and not long afterwards Graan, the fanatic14 Mohammadan enemy, commenced the overthrow15 of this then powerful empire, which was speedily dismembered, and has never since been able to regain16 its former limits.
The heathen intruders soon relaxing in their united efforts against the Christians, those Galla tribes which had settled on Abyssinian ground began to contest among themselves for the supremacy17 over the newly-acquired territory, and to enslave each other. The Mohammadans, who had meanwhile gained a footing in the disturbed country, being slave-dealers18 by profession, greedily availed themselves of the opportunity afforded by these intestine20 divisions to trade in Pagan prisoners, females especially, who possess the recommendation of superior personal attractions to the generality of “Afric’s dark daughters”—and thus the traffic spread rapidly around Abyssinia. Partly from fear of then enemies, and partly from being less interested in slavery than the Moslems, the Christians no longer ventured beyond the frontiers of the country they retained, and the avenues to the sea-coast, as well as those through the Galla tribes in the interior, thus fell together with the whole commerce into the hands of the bigoted22 disciples23 of the Prophet. They devoted24 their lives to the purchase and sale of human flesh, a trade with which they connected the propagation of their faith, and their market was ever supplied by the out-pouring of innumerable prisoners of war from the distant nations of the interior.
The origin of the slave-trade in these quarters may thus be referred to the commencement of hostilities25 therein, and to the presence of Mohammadans, by whom it was fostered and encouraged. Grain and cattle excepted, the wild and greedy Galla possessed not a single commodity to barter26 for the alluring27 foreign wares29 exhibited by the rover, but his captured foe30 presented the ready means of supplying whatsoever31 he coveted32. The empire of Abyssinia being dismembered and enfeebled by the tide of invasion, its rulers, far from seeking to crush the hostilities that prevailed among the Gentiles, naturally rejoiced to see intestine feuds33 raging throughout a nation, which, if united, could have swept away the small remnant of Ethiopic power, once so predominant.
The Christians, moreover, had become so corrupted34 by evil example, that, in lieu of opposing a barrier to the advance of slavery, they shortly adopted and encouraged the debasing traffic. Those provinces especially which were separated from the principal seat of government not only afforded a market to numbers of Pagan prisoners, but extended to the dealer19 in slaves a safe road by which thousands were annually35 exported to Arabia; and Shoa, Efát, Guráguê, and Cambát, the southernmost provinces of Abyssinia, having more especially suffered at the hands of the Galla hordes, it is not difficult to understand how, in a confused political and ecclesiastical state of things, the detestation entertained towards their heathen persecutors prompted the population to purchase as drudges36 those of their enemies who had been captured in war.
When the rulers of Shoa began to extend their dominions37, and to subdue38 the nearer tribes of Galla invaders39, Christianity was propagated by the sword; but the Mohammadan traders, far from being checked or arrested in their dealings, were only induced to extend their traffic to more remote regions of north-eastern Africa. Instead of purchasing slaves at Ankóber, as had been their wont41 when that capital was still in Pagan hands, they were compelled, after its recapture, to seek their victims in Guráguê, and beyond. Those provinces of Abyssinia wherein the seat of government was established after the demolition42 of the Ethiopic empire, preserved more or less of their ancient customs, which sanctioned the enslavement of a captured enemy for the term of seven years, according to the Mosaic43 law; and the practice is to the present day retained in Gojam and Tigré—the inhabitants of these states neither buying nor selling slaves, but consigning44 to a few years of bondage45 all prisoners from the wild tribes of Shankela taken in war.
The enslavement of this heathen people, who are often barbarously hunted down for sport, is defended upon the grounds that so fierce, swarthy, and bestial46 a race, existing in the rudest possible form of savage47 state, must be the accursed of mankind, and entirely48 beyond the pale of natural rights. But the Christians of Western and Northern Abyssinia condemn49 this opinion of their brethren in the south and east; and Tekla Georgis, the late emperor of Gondar, having catechised a number of Shoan ecclesiastics50 as to the reason of their countenancing51 slavery and slave polygamy, reprobated both proceedings52 in the severest terms.
The separation of Shoa from the imperial sway of Northern Abyssinia, by the Galla invasion, was, as may be supposed, far from improving the morals of the people. The first rulers of Shoa, aspiring53 to ascendency over all the minor54 independent principalities, were fain to tolerate a variety of abuses which had crept into the Abyssinian church during the reign28 of anarchy55, confusion, and barbarism; and, however well they might have felt inwardly disposed to work the reformation of their subjects, they durst not, in the infancy56 of their power, attempt the suppression of a custom to which the entire population of the subjugated57 districts were so strongly wedded58. Moreover, they had begun to follow the example of the Gondar dynasty in respect to the hospitable59 entertainment by the crown of all foreigners and strangers; to which end a large establishment being indispensable for the preparation of the daily maintenance styled “dirgo,” they considered that the manual labour could better be performed by slaves selected from among the thousands that annually passed through their dominions than by their own free subjects.
The parsimony60 of their national character also doubtless favoured this introduction of slavery as a domestic institution. The sovereign was above all things desirous of acquiring a reputation for munificence61 without actually impairing62 the state revenues; and he felt anxious at the same time to pave the road to popularity by relieving his subjects of that drudgery63 which would have led to an aversion towards visitors, highly inimical to the royal interests. All despotic rulers are prone64 to greater confidence in the slave than in the freeman; and Abyssinian sophistry65 probably led the first kings of Shoa to argue, that hospitality extended towards strangers and pilgrims in the land would vindicate66 in the sight of Heaven the infliction67 of bitter bondage upon those who at that period, even more than at the present day, were execrated68 and abhorred69.
The unceasing wars, wherein the feudal70 subjects of Shoa were personally engaged, being unfavourable for agricultural pursuits, they were not slow in imitating the example set by their monarch71, as well in household slavery as in slave polygamy. Both king and people believed that the wretch72 exported from Africa was destined73 to Christian8 countries beyond the seas, where the truths of the Gospel would be imparted to him; and hence the slaveholder in Shoa, although prohibited from dealing40 in the flesh and blood of his fellow-creatures as a trade, was permitted to resell Mohammadan or Pagan purchases, who refused to embrace the religion of Ethiopia.
Slavery amongst the Galla tribes is cradled and nursed in the unceasing intestine feuds of that savage and disorganised people; but the circumstances attending its existence in Guráguê, although resting upon the same basis, are somewhat different in character. Since the period that the heathen inroads first cut off that Christian country from the ancient Ethiopic empire, and foes74 begirt it on all sides like wild beasts prowling for their prey75, it has been thrown into a position of peculiar76 misfortune, and would gladly seek repose77 by placing itself again under the protection of its legitimate78 sovereign. For this boon79 it has often applied80 to Sáhela Selássie; but from motives81 of prudence82 he has not chosen to extend either his visits or his authority beyond the frontier village of Aiméllele.
Occupying about one and a half degree of longitude83, by one degree of latitude84, and swarming85 with population, Guráguê is at this moment in a state similar to Palestine of old, whereof the Scripture86 saith, “There was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” In the absence of a supreme87 head, each village or community elects its own temporary governor, who is perpetually removed by the cabals88 and caprice of the people. Whilst the Galla make constant predatory inroads from without, anarchy reigns89 within. A multitude of private feuds animate90 the turbulent population; and there being neither king nor laws, it is not surprising that every man should stretch forth91 his hand to kidnap his neighbour. Among the southern portions especially, in the domicile or in the open street, the stronger seizes upon the weaker as his bondsman, and sells him to the greedy Mohammadan dealers, who hover92 round like a host of hungry vultures, and are ever at hand with their glittering gewgaws; the innate93 love of which induces brother to sell sister, and the parent to carry her own offspring to the market.
Annually pouring out many thousands of her sons and daughters in every direction, this wretched Christian province, a prey to lawless violence, and the theatre of every monstrous94 and detestable crime, cries aloud for the intervention95 of the philanthropist. Guráguê is the very hotbed of slavery in Eastern Africa, north of the equator; and it claims the earnest attention of all who are interested in the suppression of the evil. None of the surrounding countries would seem to be unvitiated by the baneful96 influence of the slave-trade; and all are sunk in the lowest and most grovelling97 superstition98. Susa, Korchássie, Wollámo, Cambát, with every other isolated99 principality once appended to the ancient empire, although still professing100 the mild tenets of the Christian faith, take an active part in the capture and sale of their fellow-savages. Villages are fired, and the inhabitants seized as they fly in terror from the flames that envelope their wigwams; and the aged12 and the infirm are butchered, because unfit for drudgery. The new-born babe is torn from its parent in the hour of its birth to be ruthlessly immolated101 at the shrine102 of the idol103; and the shores of Lake Umo are white with the bleaching104 bones of hapless female victims, who have been selected from the drove for their superior charms, and have been launched into its depths by the superstitious105 Moslem21 slave-driver, to propitiate106 the genius of the water!
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1
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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diffusion
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| n.流布；普及；散漫 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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occident
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| n.西方；欧美 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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intestine
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| adj.内部的；国内的；n.肠 | |
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Moslem
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| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
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bigoted
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| adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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drudges
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| n.做苦工的人，劳碌的人( drudge的名词复数 ) | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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41
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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42
demolition
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| n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹 | |
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mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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consigning
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的现在分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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45
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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bestial
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| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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49
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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ecclesiastics
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| n.神职者，教会，牧师( ecclesiastic的名词复数 ) | |
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countenancing
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的现在分词 ) | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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57
subjugated
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| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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61
munificence
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| n.宽宏大量，慷慨给与 | |
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impairing
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| v.损害，削弱( impair的现在分词 ) | |
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drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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sophistry
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| n.诡辩 | |
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vindicate
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| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
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infliction
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| n.（强加于人身的）痛苦，刑罚 | |
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execrated
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| v.憎恶( execrate的过去式和过去分词 )；厌恶；诅咒；咒骂 | |
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abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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75
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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81
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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82
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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83
longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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84
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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85
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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86
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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87
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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88
cabals
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| n.（政治）阴谋小集团，（尤指政治上的）阴谋( cabal的名词复数 ) | |
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89
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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90
animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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91
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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92
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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93
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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94
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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95
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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96
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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97
grovelling
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| adj.卑下的，奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 )；趴 | |
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98
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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99
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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100
professing
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| 声称( profess的现在分词 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
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101
immolated
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| v.宰杀…作祭品( immolate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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102
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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103
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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104
bleaching
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| 漂白法，漂白 | |
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105
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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106
propitiate
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| v.慰解，劝解 | |
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