Note 562 — Chapter II · GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SLAVERY.
Reading edition
The seeming contradiction between Viehe and Kohler’s authorities might be solved, if we attend to the following remark, made by Kohler on Büttner’s authority: “The practical possibility for the slaves of escaping from their master is the best warrant for good treatment562.” We may infer from this that, when Viehe says that the slaves can at any time return to their own country, it is only meant that it is easy from them to do so (as among a pastoral and nomadic nation it is likely to be), not that they are permitted to do so by law or custom.