5.2: Slave Auction Basics

• barefoot - all female slaves are sold barefoot



• blindfolded - slaves are often blindfolded at market to keep them quiet



• central block - there is more prestige to be sold at the major or central block versus sold casually from a side block. "Side block girl" is a term of disparagement.



• Curulean - most famous auction block in Ar. The largest. Semi-circular and 40 feet in width. 15 feet high. Painted blue and yellow. Nine slave girls are carved in white-painted wood evenly spaced. They represent the first nine girls taken.



• ending - to end an auction the auctioneer closes his hand.



• fixed price - slaves who have a fixed price, written on their body with grease pencil or lipstick... many times on their left breast



• iron pens - generally refers to all of the subterranean retention facilities in the house of a slaver, not simply cages but pits, steel drums, wall chains, etc. It is the name of an area, on the whole rather than a literal description of the nature of the only sort of security devices found there.



• pierced-ear girl - gets higher price... Goreans generally believe that only the lowest and hottest of slaves have pierced ears. (another reason women from earth are often seen as slaves right away) Pierced ears used to be rather uncommon, but have becomes much more popular over time.



• ritual phrase of an inspected slave - "Buy me, Master."



• Schendi - Quality slave markets in: Ushunga, Mkufu, Utajiri, Dhahabu, Fedha, Marashi, Harini, Kovu, Nguma.



• tag, black - means the slave is ill.



• tag, brown - means the slave is a low slave. Being sold as a kettle-and-mat girl or a pot girl.



• tag, gold - means the slave is a much higher grade of slave, usually a trained pleasure slave or dancer.



• tag, red - means slave is sold.
• tag, yellow - means the girl is not to be sold without prior consultation with slaver.



• tag, white - means the slave is on hold.



• traditional auction block - rounded and of wood with sawdust on it.



• unbranded slaves - may not legally be sold in a public sale in most cities. Unbranded slaves may be sold privately, however.



• volume - highest volume for sales is the 5 days of the Fifth Passage Hand, coming late in summer, called jointly the Love Fest. Thought to be good luck to buy a girl on that feast, so the prices are higher.