the slave trade

The Slave Trade

The African tribal chief was worried, too
many idle warrior hands in his kraal, too
few women, and no wars to fight, causing
words of bitter sedition; till an Arab trader
came along offered the chief costly Persian
carpets and a bracelet of gold in exchange
for fifty of his thumb twiddling men.

The chief told the men, before they were
marched down to the coast, that he now
released them of their bondage to him and
must now obey their new Arab master;
equilibrium restored, and ground lain for
future trade; a glad despot sat happily on
his carpets and twiddled with his bracelet.