NationStates Jolt Archive

The extent of the [nation] slave trade is difficult to determine. Enslavement had been a form of punishment since [historical period] times, so there was no shortage of men and women in bondage in [nation]. Nevertheless, it was said, "most of the wealthy people" in [location] "kept devil slaves" as gatekeepers. African slaves were treated little better than beasts of burden. They were made to lift heavy weights and, because the [nationality] believed they swam "without blinking their eyes," were employed as divers to repair leaking boats. Many certainly must have died soon after their arrival in [nation]. The [nationality] described the intestinal disorders they suffered, which they believed were caused by cooked food, to which they were unaccustomed. But "if they do not die, one can keep them, and after having been kept a long time they begin to understand the language of human beings, though they themselves cannot speak it."

I was, for several reasons - not least of which were the nation and nationality in question - rather jarred by this excerpt. Attempt, without recourse to search engines, to fill in the bracketed blanks.

Erm... You sure you didn't skip one part?

My guess is the nationality in question is South Africa. The historical period might have been the Boer War, I'm uncertain.

Erm... You sure you didn't skip one part?

If you mean the 'African' portion, no.

My guess is the nationality in question is South Africa. The historical period might have been the Boer War, I'm uncertain.

No.

I'm guessing either Greece, Italy, Morocco or Israel.

Great Britain. Duh. We lorded it up during Tudor times with no respect for our fellow man whatsoever.

Actually, I'm going to throw in China as well.

I'll guess US, Britain, France, Portugal or any Imperial power.... just to narrow it down ;)

Hmmm...I think we can exclude the US, because this sounds like a bit earlier.

I'd throw in Portugese or Spanish colonies in Latin America for good measure.

Just because I lack mental stability or any sort of linguistic knowledge I'll say Russia.

I apologize for not having stated this earlier, but each poster is limited to a single guess. In addition, please state a general time frame.

Great Britain. Duh. We lorded it up during Tudor times with no respect for our fellow man whatsoever.

No.

I'm guessing either Greece, Italy, Morocco or Israel. Actually, I'm going to throw in China as well.

You'll have to choose amongst those.

It's China methinks. "Devil Slaves" doesn't sound European, nor does it sound particularly Middle Eastern. And Africans would bloody well know that other black people don't get sick from eating cooked food.

Plus China did have contact with the Middle East, and the east coast of Africa. Thank Zeng He for that.

EDIT - Timeframe? I think Ming dynasty. No idea the years though.

People! African slaves in China?!

I apologize for not having stated this earlier, but each poster is limited to a single guess. In addition, please state a general time frame.



No.



You'll have to choose amongst those.

So, your asking us to guess from one country (that might or might not exist today) in the entire history of man..... care to narrow that down a bit, before we all go to search engines....?

Mauritania.

You'll have to choose amongst those.

I'm going with China. The fact that the nation was so old and the slaves were called "devils" kind of pushes me in that direction. I'd say China in the 1700's.

Mauritania.
Actually...it is very likely that he might be talking about Arabia or North African Arab States.
They had African Slaves at a time when people would actually believe Black people could be devil slaves and do all kinds of mystical stuff.

So, your asking us to guess from one country (that might or might not exist today) in the entire history of man..... care to narrow that down a bit, before we all go to search engines....?

This nation, which exists - in a manner of speaking - today, had around several 700 years of direct association with African slaves prior to termination of such trade.

Yep China! About 1500?

This nation, which exists - in a manner of speaking - today, had around several 700 years of direct association with African slaves prior to termination of such trade.
That pretty much excludes Europe. China, they did believe in weird things, but they didn't have a regular supply of African slaves for most of the time, so they are dropped too.

I say...Egypt? If not Egypt, then either Saudi Arabia etc or....Israel?

I'd say china, about 1700,'s or 1800's.

As for 'devil' terminology, bear in mind the approximate nature of such translations. That being said, I believe its use in this particular instance is roughly equivalent to an adjectival 'devilish'.

Just because I lack mental stability or any sort of linguistic knowledge I'll say Russia.

Nope.

China, yes they did indeed use black slaves, probably when they actually bothered to send out gigantic boating expeditions. I don't happen to remember the years, for when China was out sailing the seven seas, but that'd be the time period I'd date it to.

I'm going with China. The fact that the nation was so old and the slaves were called "devils" kind of pushes me in that direction. I'd say China in the 1700's.

Incorrect.

I'd say china, about 1700,'s or 1800's.

Also incorrect.

China, yes they did indeed use black slaves, probably when they actually bothered to send out gigantic boating expeditions. I don't happen to remember the years, for when China was out sailing the seven seas, but that'd be the time period I'd date it to.
But a 700 year association with them?

Zheng He's expedition was in the early 15th century AFAIK, and before that the naval trade was there, but not in any way continuous - and I don't think they transported African Slaves over the Silk Road.

That might by the way also mean that it could've been India - but that's unlikely.

I stick with Egypt.

But a 700 year association with them?

Zheng He's expedition was in the early 15th century AFAIK, and before that the naval trade was there, but not in any way continuous - and I don't think they transported African Slaves over the Silk Road.

That might by the way also mean that it could've been India - but that's unlikely.

I stick with Egypt.

What time period?

What time period?
Hard to say...could either be earlier times (ie Pharao-Ptolemaeic) but I'd poke at the early years after the Saracens took over and perhaps had contact with Black Africans for the first time.

Hard to say...could either be earlier times (ie Pharao-Ptolemaeic) but I'd poke at the early years after the Saracens took over and perhaps had contact with Black Africans for the first time.

In that case, no.

The answer is Sweden, and the timeframe was from last Teusday at 11 AM to the following Thrusday at 2 PM.

In that case, no.
:(

Well, in that case I can now give you different periods...

Pharaonic times...
Alexander and the Ptolemaic Greek Pharaos...
The Romans...
It's not the Saracens.
The Caliphate...
The Mamlucks...

But a 700 year association with them?

Yes.

Look, Eolam, I'm not going to be assed into a petty game of 'name the specific time period.' Its China. Its post Han IIRC, as thats when slavery became a punishment. But honestly I don't care enough to go digging through Chinese history to come up with the specific time period.

The quotes date from the 12th century. Infer what you will from this figurine (http://www.dpm.org.cn/china/E/E5/part4-01.htm).

Israel (or more likely ancient Judea) does not fit. There were strict laws governing how slaves were to be treated. They were people, and as such were protected by laws similar to those of free people. Even whipping your slave could get you in trouble. Killing a slave would be treated like any other murder, that is, as a capital crime. Most importantly, slaves would be freed after seven years unless they wanted to stay with their masters. It was more like indentured servitude.

The only thing that DOES fit is that slavery was a punishment. If you stole something and could not pay it back, you would be sold as a slave. It should be noted that stealing food to survive was not a crime in Judea.

The answer is Sweden, and the timeframe was from last Teusday at 11 AM to the following Thrusday at 2 PM.

Well, yeah, but which part of Sweden?

So yeah. I got tired of this game, Eolam, so I used a search engine for "devil slaves" and "gatekeepers".

And let me say that I'm disappointed in you for letting people keep guessing even after quite a few have gotten it right. You've also used a "getting warmer" tone when someone got it dead wrong. ::shakes head::

I'm very disappointed. Or admiring. Or maybe just entertained.

Han China?