' 



54 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



years ago. As we left, there was a general appeal to 

 Munsinger Pasha to release them, all declaring that they 

 were innocent. 



Of female prisoners there are none, for no accusations 

 of crime are brought against them ; and should one be 

 committed by them, it is kept quiet and settled amongst 

 the male community of the tribe to which they may 

 belong. 



Selling slaves, Munsinger Pasha says, no doubt still 

 continues to a small extent secretly, but the risk to the 

 slave-dealers is now so great that the practice must in 

 time die out of itself, for their v?lue has increased in 

 proportion to the risk incurred. A few get probably 

 sent secretly to the coast, and transported in small boats 

 to Jedda, for the price of slaves in Arabia is now very 

 high. When slaves are captured by the Government, 

 the boys are drafted into the army, and husbands are 

 generally found for the girls. 



The negro soldiers behave themselves very well, but 

 they are not nearly so well educated as the Egyptian 

 soldiers, for all of these can now read and write. A 

 negro band is generally stationed here, and it is a curious 

 fact that whilst these men prefer the light European airs, 

 and play them very correctly, the Egyptians prefer their 

 own music. 



Most of the soldiers of Munsinger Pasha's guard 

 fought in Mexico under Bazaine. 



