The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-05 00:00:00

A SLAVE BARRACOON.

A Port uguese merchant, named Basilio de Cunha
Reis, has been apprehended in New York, charged with
being engaged in the slave traffic. The affidavit on which
the above arrest was effected was made by Andrew
Wilson, one of the crew of the Altivie, bslonging to
Reis. Wilson's statement; which we take frien the
New York Times, is as follows :---I arrived in Boston
in July, 1855, from a three whaling voyage. The
money in which I bad been paid off—as the wages of
sailors generally do—soon disappeared, and I was obliged
to go again ti B*3. I sngaged 4s seaman on Eo trci the
schooner Maiy E. Smith ; the captain told me the yes-
eel was going to Monte Video, South America. We were
not many days out before I discovered that the destina-
tion of the vessel had be, n misreeresent:d to me, and,
instead of going to South America, she was bound to
the Coast of Africa nn a slaving expedition. I found
that the same imposition had been practised upon nearly
all the crew; the second mate, among the rove was im-
posed upon. The captain tried to smooth the deception
over—said he was obliged to take this course, otherwise
it would be nearly impossible to make out a crew. As
the best satisfaction he could offer, he promised us all
-good wages ; this latter proffer acted as a salve to most,
for the pay promised seemed fabulous in amount ; the
agreement with ordinary seamen. was t,',800, to go to
the Gast of Africa and thencs to Cuba, from which
place the passage of each would be paid home ; in addi-
ton to this, each was to have the privileee of taking
two negroes to Cuba to sell. Sailor that I was, I had
too much of the New England blood in rr.y veins to sell
myself to engage in the slave traffic ; as I was situated,
however, I could do nothing; else but seemingly acqui-
esce ; the second mate, I ascertained, felt as I did. Be-
fore reaching the Coast of Africa some lumber on board
was converted into a slave-deck, and everything pre-
Pared for the negroes' reception. Great care was taken
zo-kitaxiinthaLAlAntrsabotplA, , There were several
kinds of flags on board, of die rent countries, to hoist
as was deemed most judicious. Guns and munitions
for defence were on board to use in case of attack or
other emergency. The Mary Smith landed at Cape
Padron, on the Ooast of Africa' and immediately set
about getting a cargo of slaves. Before the entire cargo
was taken on board the second mate and myself deserted
from the ship and went to a slave factory, or barracoon,
as it is generally called, eight miles south of Cape Padron;
we here represented that the cause of our desertion was
cruel treatment from the captain of the vessel we had
left. The Mary Smith soon sailed, and it was lucky that,
in the case of the mate and myself, princip'e overcame
avarice, for the schooner, as I have since learnt, was sub-
sequently captured by a Brazilian man-of-war off Brazil,
where the captain and crew are at present imprisoned.
The barracoon where the mite and I were received was
under the charge of a Mr. Farrel, who was employed as
the agent of a large merchant in Lisbon, Portugal.
Shortly after my arrival here the mate died ; I tarried
there two months and a half, and during this time had
full opportunity to learn the manner in which the traffic
in negroes is carried on. This barracoon, like all other
barracoons on the coast of Africa, was situated in a spot
as little liable to observation from the sea as possible ;
this was to prevent the detection of the locality by
cruising vessels along the coast ; the barrac 'on was a
roughly-constructed affair, and corn prised two apart-
ments, one for the negro males and the other fir the
women and children ; each apartment was over 400 feet
long, by 30 feet wide, with a space intervening of about
75 feet. Each structure was raised somewhat from the
ground to prevent damage from the inundatisns to which
the land near the sea-shore is liable. The sides and roofs
were thatched. In the two buildings, I was told, there
were sometimes 1,000 negroes. The number depends
upon the luck of getting in, a stock, and the frequency
of slavers landing on the c cast. Tile way the negroes
are obtained is by a regular system of traffic. Persons
are trained to it, who du nothing else but forage the
country and steal negroes. They bring them to the bar-
racoons and receive in exchange beads, calico, brass
bracelets, old muskets, or rum. The price allowed for
a stout, able-bodied negro is about 8 dollars, and for
women and children from 3 to 4 dollars, parable in
goods. No children are bought lees than six years of
age. Such is the infatuation for strong ornaments and
ruin that parents sell their own ohildreu to the slave-
factors, and husbands their own wives. The negroes,
during their stay at the barracoon are kept chained in
gangs of from eight to twelve. An iron clasp is placed
around the neck of each negro, and chains attached to
these clasps ; the parties are linked together. They make
the negroes work, but keep them chained together while
at work. The work they have to do, however, is trifling.
At this place the nearest water was three miles off, aid
it was uo small labour to bring the water necessary
for drink. Beane, rice, and maddock were the prin-
cipal food given the negroes. The latter in a root that
grows there, and it is made into a sort of soup. No one
but a negro could eat it.' Within a day or two after
being brought to the barracoon the negroes are branded.
Each barracoon has its own peculiar brand mark, and
chooses its place for impressing the brand. The more
usual place is on the- right., breast. Sarn.titura it is on
one of the arms or the back, or one of the thighs. The
instrument of branding is always the same, a heated
iron, with the brand stamp cut in it like a post office
stamp. During the time I was here I tried to get away
to go to St. Paul de Loando, where I might see the
American consul ; but the agent would not allow me to
leave the barrarmen. Although he received me kindly
at first, he afterwards changed his manner. He was a
very dark, sly Spaniard, and it was impossible to get his
confidence. One would not think of confiding anything
to him. I saw he evidenty regarded me with suspicion,
and I only sought to avert his _anger. I knew, if pro-
voked, be would as soon make away with me as he
would with a negro. He went heavily armed, and while
I was there shot one negro deal for disobedience of his
orders. At the end of two months and a-half a slave-
ship came to Cape Padron, some eight miles above, and
her captain and some men came to the barracoon to buy
a cargo of negroes. This slaver was the Altivie, from
New York. A cargo of 400 negrosie was bargained for ;
the price paid for the men, those in the best condition,
was $6O ; for the women and children was paid from
$3O to $4O each. M. Farr arranged with Capt.
Mishes, of the Altivie, to have me go with the captain.
It was not at my solicitation, although I was anxious to
get away. My hope was that I might get off in an Eng-
lish cruising vessel. As it was I did not venture to make
any show of opposition, but went on hoard the vessel
and entered upon duty as a seaman. The Altivie was a
schooner of 150 tons, well built, and a fast sailer, The
negroes were quickly stowed on board ; the major part
were compactly huddled in the hold. Accommodations
on deck were afforded for the women and children.
There was here fresh air, but the condition of those in the
hold was awful. They had to lie in spoon-fashion, and
were not permitted to stir out. A tolerable supply of food
was afforded, but water was sparingly dealt out. The
vessel directed its course to Cuba ; it landed at Santa
Nearia, a desert island ; during the passage 100 of the
negroes died ; the vessel was 40 days reaching this
island ; here they sold the negroes to parties from Cuba,
who were there in a vessel awaiting a cargo. Some prime
fellows fetched $BOO each. Immediately after the sale
the Altivie was set on fire and burnt ; the vessel lay
here eight days; meanwhile the captain went over to
Trinidad to get a passage to the United Stares for him-
self and crew, but as the charge for the passports was
6,0005, he concluded to go without them. I heard there
that a great deal of money had been made out of passport
money, the whole matter being very handsomely syste-
matised for the purpose. The captain finally arranged
with the captain of the brig William Heath to bring the
crew on to New York, at which port we landed on the
24th of May last."

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MASTERS AND OP NIRATIVES-REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE _HOUSE
OF COMMONS.

The select committee appointed to inquire into the
expediency of establishing equitable tribunals for the
amicable adjustment of differences between masters and
operatives, and who were empowered to report their
observations, together with tne minutes of evidence
taken before them to the house, have considered the
matters to them referred, and agreed to the following
report
.
"Your committee have examined a great number of
witnesses of different pos:tione in life, with a view of ob-
taining as much information as possible concerning the
subject of inquiry referred to them fur investigation. A
considerable majority of these witnesses concur in ex
pressing themselves in favour of the esto,bli,hrnent of
boards of arbitration between masters and workmen ;
but on examining their evidence it will be found that
they differ as the o institution of the proposed boards,
and still more as to their jurisdiction.
" Before considering their evidence, or making any
suggestion thereon, your committee would wish to call
the attention of the house to the existing law on the sub-
ject of arbitration.
" By statuts sth Geo. IV., c. 96, disputes' relating to
past contracts arising between masters and workmen may
be settled and adjusted by arbitration. The matter to
be settled either summarily by a justice of the peace, or,
I
. . _

_ .
if that is not agreed to, by referees appointed .by such
justice, and if the referees do not agree, then definitively
by the justice of the peace. And by the 13th* section,
in all such cases as aforesaid, as in all other cases of dis-
pute, if the parties mutually agree that the matter in
dispete shall be arbitrated and determined on in a dif-
ferent mode to the one thereby prescribed, such agree-
ment shall be valid, and the award and determina-
tion therein final and conclusive between the parties, and
powers are -given to entoroaanah award,— _
"This act appears to be hearty inoOrktave.' Hardly
any one, whether master or workman, ever resorts to it,
and its existence is unknown to many people.
" The following constitute the principal causes 'as-
signed by the witnesses whom your committee have ex-
amined forjthe failure of this act :
" 1. That there exists great unwillingness to go before
a magistrate, as bearing some appearance of a criminal
proceeding.

" 2. Thai the arbitrators being appointed as each cape
arises, it is not known beforehavi who they will he,
and there is reluctance to refer di dispute to the decision
of an unknown set of men.

" 2. Tk ►t the workmen object to magistrates in manu-
facturing districts, inasmuch as they ard gmerally ma-
nufacturers, or else in some way connected with manu-
facturers,

•
" To obviate these objections it has been proposed to
establish in the various manufacturing districts courts of
conciliation, similar to the Conseils de Prud'hommes
which exist in France. It is not nece4sary to give here
any detailed description of these institutions, as two ac-
counts of them have been furnished—one by the Board
of Tra'de and another by Sir Henry Halford, a member
of your committee, both of which accounts are appended
to the evidence. A member of your committee, Lord
Goderich has a,lso given, and the Chancellor of the French
Ligation in London-has furnished valuable evidence re•
specting the successful working of these institutions.
Your committee would, however, point out that these
conseils have no power to adjudicate with respect to fu-
ture contracts.

"Several attempts have been made in this country to
establish systems of arbitration without the intervention
of late. They are said to have been successful so long as
they lasted, but have been generally of short dutation.
A system of ariaration now establi,hed in the potteries
works well and is deserving of consideration. It has
lasted three year,,, and a desire is there felt that it should
receive legal sanction, which it is thought would secure
its continuance.

"It is proposed by some of the witnesses to extend
the jurisdiction of any courts of conciliation that may in
this country be estabisthed beyond that of the Conseils
de Prud'hommes in France, or that recognised by the
Arbitration Acts in England. These witnesses consider
that either party to a dispute as to the terms of a future
contract should be entitled to have it adjudiceed upon
by these courts, and that although their decision should
not be legally binding, yet, being published, its moral
effect would in most cases insure a compliance with it.
Some witnesses expressed a desire that these courts
should have power to regulate the rates of wages.
"Toe employers who have given evidence before your
committee have differed in opinion as to the propriety of
establishing tribunals of this kind, some of them, as Mr.
W. E. Foster, thinking that they would in most cazes be
productive of more evil than good, others, as Mr. M. D.
Rollins, being strongly in favour of their establishment.
" From the evidence before them your committee can-
not but arrive at the conclusion, that the att-mtit.n of the
legislature might with advantage be directed to the sub -
ject of this inquiry, and are of opinion that the forMatiob
of courts of conciliation in the-country, illere particit-
laxly in the !Prete c drimnrcial "find manuficturing.and
mining districts, would be beneficial. Your committee
would suggest that such a measure might_be introduced
as an amendment in the present Arbitration Act, by a
reconstruction of that act in the 10th and 13th sections,
by which means both masters anti operatives would be
enabled, each from their own class or oiling, to appoint
referees, an equal number by each party, having power
to elect a chairman unconnected with either side, having
a casting vote. Such a tribunal to be appointed for a
certain period, and not for any particular controversy.
"In addition to the above suggestions, your com-
mittee are of opinion that it would be desirable, in order
to give greater permanence and force to such boards of
arbitration as those above alluded to as having been
formed in the Potteries and other trades and districts,
that authority should be given to the Secretary of State,
,on application being made to him, to license boards of
this description, and that immediately on such licence
being granted to any such board it should be invested
with power to decide all questions relating to existing
contracts which might be brought before it, and to en-
force its decisions.

"Your committee are, however, of opinion that it
would be impossible to give these or any other tribunals
any power whatever of forcibly regulating the rate of
wages, although advantages might frequently arise, even
in disputes on that subject, from the existence in the
district of a board of arbitration chosen fr among the
masters and workmen in the trade in which such dispute
might occur, as, in the opinion of your committee, both
parties would frequently be willing in that case volun-
tarily to refer the question to the decision of such a
board."