In the spring of 1835, British lawyer and traveler Charles G. Addison (1812-1866) embarked on a journey to the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting Constantinople, Syria and Palestine. He kept a travel journal that was later published as Damascus and Palmyra: A Journey to the East, with a sketch of the state and prospects of Syria under Ibrahim Pasha (London: Richard Bentley, 1838). Upon landing in Constantinople, Addison visited a local slave market where he encountered a Georgian slave.
As my companions were descending the gallery, I caught sight of a youthful looking figure in an inner room. I made a halt at the door, the girl turned, her veil was hanging back upon her shoulders, and one of the loveliest faces I ever saw was suddenly presented to my view. She appeared about eighteen, was tall and slight, had a fair complexion, and melting black eyes, which looked out from under her white veil in a most melancholy manner. I was rooted to the spot; she made no attempt to move, or cover her face, till an old Turk suddenly appeared from the inside, and seeing me at the door, let out a volley of unintelligible words. Our dragoman came up and hurried me away, telling me that I ought never to quit the party, or get out of his sight. He said the girl was a Georgian, and that her master would not sell her at any price to an Infidel. The girl, from what I could see, appeared very handsomely dressed, and quite above the common herd. The dragoman said it was unusual to see so choice a one at the market, and thought she must have been brought out by express appointment with a purchaser, as the handsomest are kept at home, and sold there.
The Jews are the chief dealers in slaves, and teach them to dance, sing, play on instruments, and every thing that can create admiration or inspire passion. It is said that the Russians deal a good deal in this horrible slave traffick in the Black Sea, from the countries bordering on which the choicest women are brought. The Georgian princes seize them, and sell them to the slave merchants who frequent Trebizond and the ports of Mingrelia. Two or three Russian travelers with whom I met had slaves with them...
