Slaves were not permitted to join in the worship of some of their heathen temples, but were accounted unholy and profane, too mean to be admitted upon a level with free-born worshippers. Their worship, indeed, was to heathen gods, who could not bless or save, and we do not greatly wonder at the pride and oppression of their votaries; but, it is far more to be regretted, that similar feelings of haughty superiority have been suffered to exist among the professed worshippers of Him, who is no respecter of persons, and before whom there is no difference between Jew and Greek, barbarian, Scythian, bond, and free. Slaves were even restricted from some vices which were commonly practised by free men; these prohibitions were not on the ground of morality, but as a mark of degradation and inferiority. A citizen might commit sins which were too dignified and genteel to be allowed to a slave.

A slave was not permitted to be called by any name that was in use among citizens, or by any name connected with what was at all considered

great and noble. It was recommended to give slaves and dogs short names, that they might be the more quickly pronounced. Hence, if slaves by any means recovered their freedom, it was common to change their names for others that had more syllables, or an additional name was assumed in some way connected with the place, author, or circumstances of their liberation.

Above all things, especial care was taken that slaves should not bear arms; and this precaution was not without reason, since the number of slaves in Greece was nearly twenty times that of free citizens. The only wonder is, that they did not

revolt and subdue their oppressors; but it is a proof how far the policy of tyranny had succeeded in crushing the native spirit of freedom. On some occasions, however, when the state was in extreme danger, some of the slaves were armed in defence of their masters and themselves, and were successful. Some efforts were made by the slaves in different places, when opportunity presented, or some insufferable oppression roused them, to recover their liberty, sometimes almost to the utter sab version of the country, and at others to the destruction of the slaves. In Attica, not less than a million of slaves perished in the attempt. Sometimes, in war, the slaves deserted to the enemy, hoping, in some degree, to better their condition, which could scarcely be rendered worse. If taken, they were made to pay dearly for their desire of freedom, being bound fast to a wheel, or a pillar, and unmercifully beaten with whips, sometimes even to death. It was customary, also, by way of punishment, to brand or mutilate slaves; sometimes the part offending, as the hand for theft, or the tongue for offensive speaking; but, generally, upon the forehead, where it was most visible. Sometimes they were thus branded, not as a punishment for crime, but merely as a mark to distinguish them, in case they should desert their masters. Working in mills was a common punishment for slaves. This labour was very fatiguing; the present easy methods of grinding were unknown, and the grain was beaten to meal between two heavy stones worked with the hand. This was, no doubt, usually performed by slaves; but, in an ordinary way, lightened by a frequent change of

hands. The punishment, in all probability, consisted in being kept constantly to this excessive toil, and other cruelties were practised upon them to render it the more intolerable.

The slaves at Athens were treated with more humanity than in most other places. If grievously oppressed, they were allowed to flee for sanctuary to the Temple of Theseus, whence to force them was an act of sacrilege. If they had been barbarously treated, they might commence a suit against their masters; and, if it appeared that the complaint was reasonable and just, the master was obliged to sell his slave, and give him the chance of finding a better master. If injured by other persons, not their masters, slaves were allowed to proceed by a course of law. They were also allowed more freedom in conversation among themselves, and permitted to enjoy many of the ordinary pleasures of life; and, moreover, were solaced with the hope of one day regaining their liberty. They were permitted to acquire property and hold estates, only paying to their masters a small annual tribute; and if, by their industry and frugality, they acquired a sufficient sum to purchase their ransom, their masters had no power to hinder them from so doing. In some instances, the fidelity and diligence of the slave was rewarded by the generosity of the master in the free bestowment of liberty; and, on several occasions, when slaves by their courage and constancy rendered essential service to the state, they were uniformly rewarded with liberty, and generally advanced to considerable dignity and reputation; though such as obtained their liberty by purchase, or by favour of an indi

vidual, were rarely advanced to the rank of citizens, or, at best, had to endure much dislike and opposition.

Slavery at Carthage.–Carthace was a finos city of antiquity, the capital of Africa Proper, and for many years disputed with Rome the sovereignty of the world. It has been conjectured that the Carthaginians were one of the nations of Canaan, and that they fled at the conquest of Canaan by Joshua, and colonized at Carthage. In process of time they became very powerful, and conquered a great part of Southern Europe, including Spain, where they enriched themselves with the produce of its mines of gold and silver. The labour employed in working these mines was incredible. The reins of metal rarely appeared on the surface. They were to be sought for and traced through frightful depths, where often floods of water impeded the progress of the miners, and seemed to defeat all future pursuit; but avarice is not easily disheartened, especially when the toil and suffering to be endured in pursuit of its golden idol can be imposed on others. Numberless multitudes of slaves perished in these mines, which were dug to enrich their masters. Upwards of 40,000 were constantly employed: they were treated with the utmost barbarity; compelled, by heavy stripes, to labour, and allowed no respite day or night.

In most barbarous nations, the wretched slaves and their offspring were taken as substitutes in the idolatrous and cruel rites of their worship. This has already been alluded to among the customs of Sparta (p. 30). The Carthaginians worshipped Saturn, or Moloch, a frightful brazen image, with its hands turned downwards over a fiery furnace. On stated occasions, and on particular

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conquering army remained in the land they had subdued, and the slaves being thus rid of their inasters elevated themselves in society, formed marriages in the families of their former masters, and, in fact, became possessors of the country. After a period of twenty-eight years, the Scythians returned, but found a numerous body in arms to oppose their entrance and dispute their progress. For a considerable time, and in several engagements, this opposition was successful, and the numbers of the returning Scythians was fearfully diminished. At length one of them suggested that they ought not to meet their former slaves on an equal footing, with darts and arrows, a course which (said he) leads them to imagine themselves our equals in birth and importance; let us rush on them with horse-whips only, they will then be reminded of their servile condition, and resist us no longer. This expedient succeeded; the slaves were intimidated and fled, and the sovereignty of the country was regained by its former masters.

We are informed that these Helots were habitually treated in the most barbarous manner, and often murdered without committing any fault, and without any show of justice. On one occasion, a number of them were professedly set free, as a reward for their good and faithful services; but about two thousand of them immediately disappeared, and no one could give any account how they came by their deaths.

It was the policy of the Grecians, as it has been of all slave-masters, to keep the slaves at a very great distance; to instil into them a mean opinion of themselves; to extinguish, if possible, every spark of generosity and manhood; to withhold