or little boys were
stolen from their mothers and fathers by wicked men called Arabs, who go
from Arabia to Africa in boats to steal boys and girls and bring them here
to sell them. Each boy is sold for nearly ten pounds ($50). These men know
it is wrong in their hearts, but you see what a lot of money they make!
What does St. Paul say? "The _love_ of money is the root of all evil." And
then the religion of the Arab permits him to do this work of stealing and
selling boys and girls.

One night about two or three years ago, just as the sun was setting, some
little black boys were playing and fishing near the water on the coast of
Zanzibar, in East Africa; a man came up to them and offered them some
dates. Little black _and white_ boys are always ready to eat, are they
not? These boys took the dates and while they were eating, the man threw a
cloth over their heads and carried them off to a boat standing near. The
Arabs caught a great many in this way, and when the boat had as many as it
could carry they moved away and began to travel towards Arabia. The poor
children were kept in the bottom of the boat, all huddled together, and
given very little to eat and drink. Sometimes the sea was rough and they
were sick, so altogether their voyage in an open boat was not a pleasant
one. But "Some One" was taking notice of these children and He was going
to deliver them. Do _you_ know who was watching over them? After many days
at sea the boat came near Muscat. A servant of the British Consul saw the
boat and knew there were slaves in it. Then the Consul got ready in a
small boat and went after the big one. They had to follow nearly all night
and at last overtook the slave-dhow. The Consul pulled alongside in a
Bedden (native boat) and demanded the firearms of the Arabs. Then he bound
them and put his own sailors on board, and brought the precious cargo of
souls into Muscat harbour.

[Illustration: SLAVE GIRL IN ARABIA.]

The owner of the slave-dhow was sent to prison, and the boys and girls
were given away to Christian people to train, the missionary in Muscat
getting the largest share.

This was the origin of the rescued-slave school at Muscat. Other slaves
are caught from time to time and liberated. Sometimes they are sent to
Bombay or other places in India; a large number were once liberated at
Aden and are now in a school at Lovedale in Africa. When these poor slave
children first come from the slave ships they are very ign