The Nile River, both the Blue and the White, that merges at Khartoum in the Sudan, flows south to north (direction is downhill) in a circuitous course between banks of narrow strips of fertile land with deserts on both sides, finally emptying into a wide Delta that flows into the Mediterranean Sea. As such, the Nile is a jewel of life to all who live along its banks in towns the likes of Thebes and Memphis of Egypt and Napata and Saleb of Nubia. Nubia was known for its wealth in gold, and its very name comes from the Egyptian word "nub" that means gold.
Nubians are a black race who are very creative and artistic. In the distant past their armies were strong under such rulers as Taharqa and Tanoutaman who defeated the Egyptians, and for a time Egypt was ruled by black Pharoahs.
Slave traders often came to both Egyptian and Nubian towns to buy or trade, but most likely steal, men and women, boys and girls, to sell on the black markets that were found in Greece and Turkey as well as other countries.
On one such raid two beautiful, two young girls of about eighteen years were carried off by raiders to be sold in the slave market of Athens, Greece, since it had a very thriving business in buying and selling slaves.
Often the stolen women were raped by the raiders, but it was an unbroken rule among slave traders that no virgin would be violated because she brought the highest price on the selling block, and the two lovelies they captured were just what they liked to get.
Once they had their money, the slave traders knew they could get all the sexual favors they wanted.
Having made their successful raid from Alexandria and Napata in Nubia, the slave traders took their captives quickly to reach their ships they had waiting for them at the harbor in Alexandria and set sail for Athens that is almost straight across the Mediterranean.
Their ships were small with shallow drafts, and many large rocks were used below in the hold for ballast. These ships had triangular, lateen sails that had a loose foot (bottom of the sail) attached to a long yard suspended from a short mast. This kind of rig allowed these ships to be sailed in all directions, including into the wind; although, this required tacking back and forth in a zig-zag course to the wind since a ship cannot sail beyond 45 degrees. This is a rough point of sail called "beating" into the wind. However, it does allow one to sail into the wind.
Once the slavers decided to go to Athens with their slaves, they set a course North/Northwest. Their home port was Izmir, Turkey, that was about due east of Athens. However, because they were known there, they thought it best to sell the slaves in Athens.
Each of the captives had her or his hands and feet loosely tied with a line secured to side rails that had been put on the ships for this purpose even though there was no place to go, but the slavers thought there just might be one or two who would jump overboard and drown rather than be sold into slavery.
It was a clear night with a fair wind blowing out of the east across their starboard (right) that put them on a beam reach, and the waves were about three foot swells, so the slavers were making good time.
Among those taken were two young gils of eighteen or nineteen years who huddled together in the bow of the ship where they felt every rise on the crest of the waves and fall into the waves' trough at the bottom. This up and down motion of the boat made them more than uncomfortable in their stomachs, and a few times they had to get up to throw up over the side.
However, after awhile they became somewhat used to the rhythm of the sea and were able to relax a little.
Every now and then each looked into the other's eyes and saw how forlorn she was.
Each felt so lost and alone and wondered what was going to happen to her, and with her wonder came fear.
In a weak, shaky voice the black girl who was as dark as ebony spoke softly in a whisper to the other near her so no one else could hear.
"Hello, my name is Yahminah. What's yours?"
Since the black girl spoke her native tongue as well as Egyptian but with a slight accent, the other girl understood what she had just asked.
"I'm Jaffa."
Yahminah was from Nubia, a country of ancient Africa that was southwest of Egypt. Her young skin was black as an ebon sky. Her eyes were very white with dark pupils. Her hair seemed short, but it was done in braids with each strand having colorful beads on it so that they hung down to mid-forehead. The sides and back braids reached just above her shoulders and covered her ears.
"You're very beautiful, Yahminah," said Jaffa. "I love your hair with all those colorful, beaded braids covering your head. They give you a regal look."
Yahminah smiled, and when she did, her brilliant white teeth added to her beauty.
"Thank you, Jaffa. I'm glad you like them."
Having another thought, she asked, "Where do you come from, Jaffa? You look Egyptian."
"Yes, I'm Egyptian," she confirmed Yahminah's observation.
My home is...was she sobbed...in Alexandria, where I was taken. Oh, how I miss my home and parents."
"Me, too. It happened so fast. I was standing alone outside our home when men came along and one grabbed me around my waist and took me away. I tried to scream, but the one who had me put his big, dirty hand over my mouth. Right now, I don't even know if my parents are aware that I'm missing since it was quite early when I was taken, and I often go for a long walk before our morning meal."
Tears welled up in Yahminah's's eyes and rolled down her cheeks, leaving two watery streaks on her velvty, black skin.
"How horrible for you, Yahminah. I was walking home from the great library in Alexandria when I was abducted," said Jaffa. "About the same thing happened to me as it had with you. Men grabbed me and hurried away down an alley to the harbor."
Yahminah and Jaffa were so involved with the sharing of their stories, they didn't hear one of the slavers walk up to them.
"Well, well, 'n' how are ma two lovelies?" he snarled as a dribble of spittal ran out of the side of his mouth.