It is an indisputable fact that the welfare of their slaves is an object of unceasing interest with their owners, if they are really good Mussulmauns; indeed, it is second only to the regard which they manifest to their own children.

Many persons have been known, in making their will, to decree the liberty of their slaves.  They are not, however, always willing to accept the boon.  ‘To whom shall I go?’—­’Where shall I meet a home like my master’s house?’ are appeals that endear the slave to the survivors of the first proprietor, and prove that their bondage has not been a very painful one.  It is an amiable trait of character amongst the Mussulmauns, with whom I have been intimate, and which I can never forget, that the dependence of their slaves is made easy; that they enjoy every comfort compatible with their station; and that their health, morals, clothing, and general happiness, are as much attended to as that of their own relatives.  But slavery is a harsh term between man and man, and however mitigated its state, is still degrading to him.  I heartily trust there will be a time when this badge of disgrace shall be wiped away from every human being.  He that made man, designed him for higher purposes than to be the slave of his fellow-mortal; but I should be unjust to the people of India, if I did not remark, that having the uncontrolled power in their hands, they abstain from the exercise of any such severity as has disgraced the owners of slaves in other places, where even the laws have failed to protect them from cruelty and oppression.  Indeed, wherever an instance has occurred of unfeeling conduct towards these helpless beings, the most marked detestation has invariably been evinced towards the authors by the real Mussulmaun.

I have heard of a very beautiful female slave who had been fostered by a Native lady of high rank, from her infancy.  In the course of time, this female had arrived to the honour of being made the companion of her young master, still, however, by her Begum’s consent, residing with her lady, who was much attached to her.  The freedom of intercourse, occasioned by the slave’s exaltation, had the effect of lessening the young creature’s former respect for her still kind mistress, to whom she evinced some ungrateful returns for the many indulgences she had through life received at her hands.  The exact nature of her offences I never heard, but it was deemed requisite, for the sake of example in a house where some hundreds of female slaves were maintained, that the lady should adopt some such method of testifying her displeasure towards this pretty favourite, as would be consistent with her present elevated station.  A stout silver chain was therefore made, by the Begum’s orders, and with this the slave was linked to her bedstead a certain number of hours every day, in the view of the whole congregated family of slaves.  This punishment would be felt as a degradation by the slave; not the confinement to her bedstead, where she would perhaps have seated herself from choice, had she not been in disgrace.