No. 351.
Mr. Farman to Mr. Evarts.
Cairo, June 27, 1877. (Received July 23.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I yesterday obtained the freedom of a negro boy, about twelve years of age, under the following circumstances: He was found in a street in Cairo by an American lady, who speaks Arabic, and of whom he asked food, saying he had had nothing to eat during the day. After hearing his story she took him to the dwelling of an American citizen residing in Cairo, who, the next day, came with him to the consulate-general and asked that measures be taken to procure his freedom, promising to see that he was properly provided for.
According to the story of the boy, he was born in Soudan, and was brought to Tanta when he was very small by a slave-dealer and sold to a man who lived at Saccara, a small village near the pyramids. During the Abyssinian war his master went as an Egyptian soldier to that country and was killed, leaving a widow at Saccara. Afterward his master’s brother forcibly took him away from the widow and treated him badly, often beating him without cause. Desiring to escape, he watched his opportunity and came to Cairo, where he met the lady who had kindly taken him to the house of the gentleman who had accompanied him to the consulate.
I sent my janizary (guard) with the boy, and a letter asking his manumission, to the chief of police, and in a short time both returned with a paper in Arabic, of which I inclose a translation.
You will see that this paper is given him “to show that he is free [Page 633] and can go where he will,” for the reason that he “complains of not being satisfied with the treatment he receives at his master’s, and because slavery is prohibited, in pursuance of the orders and regulations decreed by the government of the Khédive.”
I have narrated very briefly the principal facts in this case, to show with how little difficulty slaves are freed.
It would appear that, according to law, there are no slaves in Egypt. Practically this is not so, but any slave can procure his freedom by applying at a consulate.
Such applications are rare, but when one is made the consul-general promptly asks the liberation of the slave, and the authorities immediately grant the request. I have acted in the case according to the usual custom. The boy will be sent to the American Mission School at Assiout and properly educated.
I have, &c.,