These people had first hand knowledge of African languages and the African regions where they were spoken, and could therefore help identify the Amistad captives as African. Copies of letter from Lewis Tappan and of court orders requiring the detainment of the Africans in the New Haven jail. Tappan argues that the Africans should not be returned to Spain, and describes two visits to the Africans in prison, including statements from the Africans as translated by an interpreter. Mr. Gallaudet, who assists deaf-mutes with the language barrier, visits the Amistad Africans in the Hartford jail. An article reporting on the discovery of other translators for the Amistad Africans.
Information is provided about their origin and voyage.
The Africans describe their treatment by the Spaniards aboard the Amistad through interpreters Charles Pratt and James Covey. Cinque and others desire to learn to speak English. The short testimony of Covey, describing his background as a freed slave and his genuine belief that those who revolted on board the Amistad are indeed Africans. Testimony by Cinque, Grabeau, Fuliwa on their capture, travel from Africa to Cuba, and revolt aboard Amistad. Lewis Tappan brings the Amistad Africans before the Tabernacle.