Works Cited

http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/adams/adams.html

http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/aga/aga.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selim_Aga

http://google.com

Chronological Information: Selim Aga

During Aga’s Lifetime slavery was similar. Slave traders would trade slaves for money and goods. Slaves would bounce around from master to master and would be treated very harshly. They would be whipped for almost any little thing like Aga said and were transported with their hands and feet shackled. Slaves usually were taken with at least one person they knew from their native land or were reunited with at least one person from their native land later on in life.

Comparison to Frederick Douglass: Selim Aga

Selim Aga is different from Fredrick Douglass because although they were both enslaved at one point Aga’s story was a bit different than Douglass’s. Aga did not grow up in the south he was enslaved straight from his native country and therefore did not grow up in slavery. Aga knew what it was like to be free and at first during his capture had a hard time excepting the fact that he belonged to someone else. Aga is also different than Douglass because after he was sold to the British consul Aga was treated very well and was taught by his master to read and write. This is something that Douglass did not get a chance to do until he was much older because during the time Douglass was a slave, slave owners did not want their slaves learning how to read and write. Another difference between the two is that after Douglass became free and wrote is autobiography he started advocating against slavery. In Aga’s biography he dedicates the book to the women who was a mother figure to him and to the place where he learned to ready and write. This shows that these two men had very different views on slavery. What makes the two similar is that they were both slaves, they were both males and they both wrote an autobiography about their time as slaves. What also makes them similar is that they were both ripped away from their families at one point during their times as slaves. 

Geographical Location and Escape: Selim Aga

What was slavery Like in the place where the author was held?

   The place where he was being held was not very nice and neither were the slave traders. Not only was Aga beaten upon resistance but he was also tied up and set to walk in a certain direction with his master following behind him with a whip. Once they arrived at his new masters house he was secured with iron chains that were around his feet and was never permitted to go too far from the house. He and another slave women that he recognized from home named Medina were kept there until their owner joined a caravan consisting of merchants and travelers left the village of Tegla and arrived in a large town called Kordofan, which was under the jurisdiction of the Pacha of Egypt. After pitching tents for the night Aga and Medina continued their journey with their master to a village called Albaharr or as seen on their map a place called Albeit. During their time in Albeit Aga and Medina were taken to a Turk camp where his master had them examined. They checked their tongues and teeth and had all of their limbs thoroughly examined. Aga’s master “disposed” of both him and Medina to an Arab man who they ended up living with for 3 days. After they stayed with the Arab they were then given to a Turk who Aga said was one of the cruelest men in existence. There Aga was beaten severely for every little thing.  Aga was sold about 10 times before he ever got a chance to read, write or see freedom.


What can you find out about life in the place where he or she escaped?

    Aga never escaped from slavery. However he was sold to a nice family who taught him how to read and write. He said that him and his friend Medina had talked about escaping and once he had even managed to escape his ankle chains but was afraid to run because he felt that he would end up getting caught.