A visit
The Market is tall drum shaped stone bastion squatting by the harbor.
On closer inspection you see it comprises a concentric wall of dark stone around the inner drum tower. This is surmounted by a huge beacon that is lit as a pharos for the galleys.
The tower stands many levels high and dwarfs the warehouses and taverns closeby. It is also as deep as it is tall, its lower galleries and vaults are the Pits in which slaves are held and prepared for sale.
There are chambers for shackling, branding and breaking slaves.
It is said the pens can take several thousands of slaves and there is an army of overseers, appraisers and auction masters to process the flesh. And for them there is another ring of tradespeople from the leather makers who supply strands for the knotted lashes to the metal workers and meal merchants who supply fodder. And for these there is another army of slaves who work the mills, forges and furnaces.
Gallo and his nephew saw little of this as they strolled from the quay into the main gate of the Market. They passed coffles of slaves being brought from galleys that had docked alongside the Hispe. The slaves glistened with sweat from the heat of the galley holds. Their stench was strong enough to make even Gallo reach for his pomade.
The coffles were marched through the main gate and then down into the Pits.
Gallo and his nephew passed through the ornate Market gates and sat in a cool shaded tavern on the side of the inner courtyard watching the coffles pass by in the hot sun.
The tavern keeper's wench served his chilled wine and fruit and then offered to pleasure us. Her fine fingers and then her tongue played well, making both relaxed and ready for inspecting stock.
On closer inspection you see it comprises a concentric wall of dark stone around the inner drum tower. This is surmounted by a huge beacon that is lit as a pharos for the galleys.
The tower stands many levels high and dwarfs the warehouses and taverns closeby. It is also as deep as it is tall, its lower galleries and vaults are the Pits in which slaves are held and prepared for sale.
There are chambers for shackling, branding and breaking slaves.
It is said the pens can take several thousands of slaves and there is an army of overseers, appraisers and auction masters to process the flesh. And for them there is another ring of tradespeople from the leather makers who supply strands for the knotted lashes to the metal workers and meal merchants who supply fodder. And for these there is another army of slaves who work the mills, forges and furnaces.
Gallo and his nephew saw little of this as they strolled from the quay into the main gate of the Market. They passed coffles of slaves being brought from galleys that had docked alongside the Hispe. The slaves glistened with sweat from the heat of the galley holds. Their stench was strong enough to make even Gallo reach for his pomade.
The coffles were marched through the main gate and then down into the Pits.
Gallo and his nephew passed through the ornate Market gates and sat in a cool shaded tavern on the side of the inner courtyard watching the coffles pass by in the hot sun.
The tavern keeper's wench served his chilled wine and fruit and then offered to pleasure us. Her fine fingers and then her tongue played well, making both relaxed and ready for inspecting stock.
Comments
Post a Comment