850 NOETH-EAST AFEICA. 



against one another and waving his hand over them, which I presume was a 

 blessing. He then untied the cords and threads, meaning I suppose that another 

 spiritual knot had been tied, and then abruptly snatched the handkerchief out of 

 the bridegroom's mouth and spread it over his own knees. For the first time 

 there was a silence as of hushed expectation ; then some silver coins, amounting I 

 should say to about ten shillings, were dropped into the handkerchief, and the 

 priest rose suddenly, put some of the money into his pocket, and proceeded to 

 distribute the rest amonj; the minor officials, on which arose the most furious 

 clamour and dispute how the filthy lucre should be divided. But order was some- 

 how at last restored and the bridegroom got up and walked to the door. The 

 bride, however, seemed more difficult to deal with. Her mother and two or three 

 other women seemed to be packing her ujj in some mysterious way against her 

 will, rolling her about on the bench like some bale of goods. At last in the midst 

 of her struggles a man, I presume her father, rushed in, put her on his shoulder, 

 and carried her off, followed by the rest of the women." * 



Slavery. 



Officially slave-dealing is strictly prohibited in Egypt as well as in the 

 dependent territory of the Upper Nile basin. In virtue of previous conventions 

 made with England personal servitude should have already been completely 

 abolished by August 4, 1884, within the limits of the Khedival possessions. But 

 the articles of these treaties have remained a dead letter, and the representatives 

 of Great Britain, now paramount in Egypt, have limited their action to the 

 despatch of a circular recalling the law imposed on the Khedive. It seems pro- 

 bable that they will observe in this respect the same reserve that Gordon did in 

 Egj^ptian Sudan, leaving to the owners the absolute possession of the men and 

 women acquired by capture or by purchase. If the slave-markets are closed the 

 traffic goes on all the same, while the grandees always find the means of procuring 

 eunuchs to look after the women of their harems. The maintenance of slavery in 

 Egypt is necessitated by these very harems, whose mysterious régime could not be 

 enforced with servants free to break their contracts at pleasure. At the same time 

 it is certain that outside the palaces of the highest Mohammedan circles, domestic 

 service is gradually replacing slavery. All Negroes who apply to the police for 

 their "paper of freedom" obtain it, and may take up any industry in any place 

 they choose. Thus the Western conquerors, like their Arab and Turkish predeces- 

 sors, have introduced a new social organisation. 



" It should also be stated that in Egypt, as in most other Mohammedan countries, 

 the slaves are usually treated with great kindness. They are regarded as useful 

 members of the household by the head of the family, whose interest it is to look 

 after their health, and make them feel as satisfied as possible with their position. 

 The more content with their lot, the more willing they are to work, and they thus 

 gradually learn to identify their interests with those of their masters. Hence they 



* "Tho Land of Khemi," p. 164 et seq. 



