"The Old Testament law referred to slavery as a voluntary servitude, where except for captives of war and criminals making restitution, a slave was free to leave at any time. Such slaves were men seeking refuge from the world of freedom and responsibility; they preferred security to liberty, because liberty meant troubles and possible losses, whereas servitude meant cradle to the grave care.

A telling illustration of such slavery comes from Essa Bey's account of the abolition of slavery in the Caucasus after conquest of that area by Tsarist Russia. The Russian viceroy called in the Caucasian chiefs and ordered the abolition of slavery; he was surprised at the ready cooperation he received. The resistance came from the slaves, who protested, "Slavery is our sacred right...Many of us are of the hereditary nobility, and some of us are priests. The Tsar should have a respect for the rights of the native nobility." A commission was appointed to investigate the matter.".....Quote to be continued.