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Merchant Law & How It Applies to Freeport
DIR By: Malora
Date: May 16, 2024, 8:16 pm
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There is a fantastic site called "The Gorean Cave" where Fogoban
has essays and book quotes about pretty much everything. Thus,
I will add the link to His Merchant Law page here
HTML https://www.thegoreancave.com/civil/merchantlaw.php.
The
following quotes are taken from His page, and I want to give
full credit where it is due.
"It is my understanding, following merchant law, and Tahari
custom," I said, "that I am not a slave, for though I am a
prisoner, I have been neither branded nor collared, nor have I
performed a gesture of submission."
Tribesmen of Gor Book 10 Page 196
In order to be recognized as a slave per Merchant Law, one must
be branded, collared and/or perform a gesture of submission.
This gesture could be the ritual of submission, or, such as in
Torvaldsland, forced into/willingly enter a bondmaid circle. Or
it could be something as simple as proclaiming oneself a slave.
"In the case of the girl, Rowena, of course, as she was already
a self-pronounced slave, the brand and collar were little more
than identificatory formalities. Nonetheless she would wear
them. They would be fixed visibly and clearly upon her. This is
in accord with the prescriptions of merchant law."
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 36
A self-proclaimed slave could never take back her words. Once
proclaimed, she is, even if not yet collared and branded, a
slave. However, before a slave can be sold or have papers
drawn, she must be branded and collared. Such is Merchant Law.
"You understand further, of course," said he, "that under
Gorean merchant law, which is the only law commonly acknowledged
binding between cities, that you stand under separate
permissions of enslavement. First, were you of Ar, it would be
my right, could I be successful, to make of you a slave, for we
share no Home Stone. Secondly, though you speak of yourself as
the Lady Elicia of Ar, of Six Towers, you are, in actuality,
Miss Elicia Nevins of the planet Earth. You are an Earth girl
and thus stand within a general permission of enslavement, fair
beauty quarry to any Gorean male whatsoever."
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 394
Merchant Law also dictates that any woman not of a Man's Home
Stone can legally be captured and collared. Women of Earth,
having no Home Stone, are considered natural slaves to be
possessed by Men.
"The fairs, too, however, have many other functions. - It is
here that Merchant Law is drafted and stabilized."
Beasts of Gor Book 12 Page 44
The Fairs of Sardar are important events. Not only for meeting
and trading with people you wouldn't ordinarily see any other
time of the year, but also in keeping various Caste Codes up to
date as well as Merchant Law.
"The fairs incidentally are governed by Merchant Law and
supported by booth rents and taxes levied on the items
exchanged. The commercial facilities of these fairs, from money
changing to general banking, are the finest I know of on Gor,
save those in Ar's Street of Coins, and letters of credit are
accepted and loans negotiated, though often at usurious rates,
with what seems reckless indifference. Yet perhaps this is not
so puzzling, for the Gorean cities will, within their own walls,
enforce the Merchant Law when pertinent, even against their own
citizens. If they did not, of course, the fairs would be closed
to the citizens of that city."
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 11
As far as Freeport is concerned, Merchant Law is enforced.
- All Citizens owning a slave (or multiple slaves) must ensure
the slave(s):
-Are visibly branded. While one may brand a slave
anywhere on said slave's body, the usual three branding spots
are the outer left thigh, the outer right thigh and the lower
abdomen. "But her left thigh worn no brand. Her right thigh,
too, as I soon noted, did not wear the slave mark, nor did her
lower left abdomen. These are the three standard marking places,
following the recommendations of Merchant Law, for the marking
of Kajirae, with the left thigh being, in practice, the
overwhelmingly favored brand site."
Fighting Slave of Gor Book 14 Page 312
-Are collared. No slave of Freeport will go without a
collar, as it not only identifies her at a glance as a slave but
also answers the question of who owns her. The collar may be
viewed as a simple contrivance, a device prescribed by Merchant
Law, identifying a slave and, if the collar is engraved, often
her master.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 41
- Have slave papers registered with the Village of
Freeport. These papers are important in knowing with certainty
who owns a slave. Collars can be easily and readily changed as
desired, but slave papers identify the legal Owner of the slave.
Scribes at nearby tables endorsed and updated papers of
registration, that the ownership of the girls be legally
transferred from the state to individual citizens.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 396
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