Matthes gives some details on slavery among the Makassars and Bugis of South Celebes[432].
In Tidore slavery formerly existed, many slaves being procured from New Guinea[433]. It has, however, been abolished by the Dutch government[434]. [[123]]
Among the Moros of Mindanao “slavery is such an established custom and institution of the land that it is generally sanctioned and supported in the Luwaran [laws]”[435].
§ 9. Indo-Chinese Peninsula.
Some tribes of this group undoubtedly have slaves. These are the Kakhyens[436], the Shans of Zimmé[437], the Lawas and the Hill-tribes of North Aracan[438], one of these hill-tribes being the Khyoungtha of Chittagong[439].
The Lethtas have no slaves[440].
The Steins, according to Colquhoun, sometimes seize a slave in order to sacrifice him[441]. No more particulars being given, we cannot make out whether the word slave is used here in its true sense, or means a captive taken to be sacrificed.
Mason remarks on the Karens: “In war they kill without regard to age or sex.… The head of the war keeps the captives a considerable time, when, if none of their friends come to redeem them, he sells them off to other districts for oxen or buffaloes if practicable, that he may have an ox or a buffalo to give to each village that came to his aid”[442]. So the Karens seem to prefer oxen and buffaloes to captives. There are, however, many debtor-slaves among the Karen-Nees[443]. They are also noted for their kidnapping propensities; but it seems that the kidnapped are only intended for sale abroad[444]. At any rate there are debtor-slaves, and so slavery exists.
Wehrli, in his study on the Chingpaws (Sing-Phos or Kachins) of Upper Burma, gives many details, which sufficiently prove that slavery exists, or till recently existed among them[445].