The last page of a Qabus Nama manuscript

 

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Kai Ka’us b. Iskander : Nasihat-Nama

known as Qabus-Nama (1083) (A mirror for princes)
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Taken from: Minoo Southgate: The negative Images of Blacks In some Medieval Iranian Writings. In : Iranian studies 1984

 

He has a chapter called: The Purchase of slaves:

 

The author completely accepts slavery and treats slaves as any other commodity, warning the potential buyer, however, that purchasing slaves is more difficult than buying any other merchandise, for human beings can not be known except by the science of physiognomy and by experience… The three essentials in the purchase are: the recognition of their good and bad qualities…. The awareness of diseases… by their symptoms, and the knowledge of various classes and defects and merits of each. The author shows on the basis of physiognomy and the ethnic background of slaves which are suited for private service and conviviality or for arms bearing or for employment in the women’s apartments, or for domestic service and cookery or to act as treasurer or for any other (such) employment or to play musical instruments or to be a herdsman or groom. The black eunuch is recommended to serve in the women’s apartment …. The author does not recommend blacks even for kitchen service, arms bearing might be black or white, all others recommendations are for whites.

 

Taken from: Le cabous name, ou livre de cabous. CABOUS ONSOR EL MOAL

Indexes to look for in a slave eunuch for the service of women are: a black and rough skin, unpleasant appearance, a dry temperament, rough hair, lean thighs, thick lips, flat nose, fingers short, vaulted waist, thin neck; such must be the proper slave to the service of the harem. You will not choose him  from the white race, nor with coloured complexion. Refuse the one whose hair is brown in color, especially if it is hanging long, as well the one whose eyes are wet, because why like women, or they are willing to serve as matchmakers.