In his revelations concerning “The Crime of the Congo,” A. Conan Doyle gives proof of the atrocious crimes perpetrated on little children as well as on men and women by employees of the Congo government. The selling, beating, mutilation, and murder of children were proved to be common occurrences.
It is said to be difficult for even the missionaries to realize the awful extent of the traffic in girls in China. In famine times girls may be bought for a mere song, sometimes being peddled about the streets in a basket and sold like poultry. In Siam the problem of slavery has assumed such large proportions that the king issued an edict a few years ago that thereafter all children born of slaves should be free.
Rescue Homes for slave children in Arabia.
“To set at liberty them that are bound” is still the work of Jehovah’s servants, and here and there throughout mission lands will be found Rescue Homes for slave children where new life and hope and opportunity are given to children who have been stolen from their homes or deliberately sold into slavery. The rescued-slave school in Muscat, Arabia, was started by the Rev. Peter Zwemer for some African slave boys caught by Arab traders, who were in turn caught by a British consul whose servant saw the slave-dhow and reported it. The rescued children were turned over to Christian people, most of them being cared for and trained for useful Christian manhood at the Muscat school.
In China.
The Spirit of Missions for June, 1905, tells of a woman’s conference held at Shanghai at which one of the subjects chosen for discussion was “Chinese Slave Girls.” A successful effort was made to enlist the co-operation of non-missionary ladies, and the result was the opening of a home for slave children under the direction of a committee on which the missionaries and the foreign residents were represented. After four years they were able to report the presence of fifteen girls, most of them very young and looking even younger than they really were because stunted by harsh treatment and lack of sufficient food. Not a child in the home but had been taken from a life of pain and cruel hardship, and none is too wretched or maimed or low to be received. They are taught to sew, to read and write in their own language, and to know and love Christ who put it into the hearts of His children to save and help them.
Result of saving a slave-child.
If you are tempted to query,—Can a stunted, maimed, degraded slave child ever repay such an outlay of effort and toil and expense?—please read the following extract from a letter from Miss Muir of the Methodist Episcopal Mission in China.
One year ago last spring Dr. B. was called to see a little slave girl in one of China’s most prominent official’s families. She was five years old. She was caught napping when she should have been fanning one of the young ladies of the family. This young lady, sixteen years old, a spoiled pet, struck the child over the head and face, leaving deep scars, tied her hands and feet together, and threw scalding water upon her. When Dr. B. saw her he persuaded them to let her go to the Hospital, where her feet and all fingers except the stump of her right thumb had to be amputated. Then Dr. B. wanted to put her into the school, and so he told this official he would have to settle a certain amount of money on her for life or he (Dr. B.) would expose him to the public and the foreign countries where he had lived. After he had tried in every way to creep out of it, Dr. B. holding fast, $3000.00 was settled upon the child as long as she lives, but whatever has not been spent of it at her death goes back to the family. This is poor little Mary, who is compelled to walk on her knees the rest of her life just because she was too sleepy to keep awake one afternoon when only five years old. But her influence in the school cannot be estimated. Her being there has helped to soften and make more kind and thoughtful every girl from the oldest to the youngest. It is beautiful to watch the little ones try to carry her or pick her up when she falls. It has been the redemption of “Pontsi” (Fattie), who used to be the mischief of the school: she would not study for any teacher, and was the hopeless case of every one. “Pontsi” appointed herself the guardian and caretaker of Mary as soon as Mary came to school; she is Mary’s partner in the line; she wheels Mary in her little chair; helps her up and down from the bench in chapel; and is always alert to do the many little helpful things where Mary needs help. She has become very studious and good in her classes, no more in mischief. But Mary has such a bright, happy disposition that she is a great help to herself, and many a time will beat half a dozen with two good feet running across the compound on her knees.
