The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-04-24
one foot inches in height, and under t6eb

one ioCt inches IN height, and under tneI6
ihe vans for their support.
+" The space allowed Tor The females, "a
IN number, was even more contracted than
that for the men, measuring only 9 feet in
ches ~ length, 4 fee; 8 inches 10 main bre adth,
and 2 leet inches in height"
From France, vessel, I" iii out regularly al
HAVE. Bordeaux, and other parts. Their
CHAINS aud handouts are put on board 10 box
es, anu entered as il they were other articles
The case OF the kodeur Is very striking !:
she sailed from-in Ihe early part OF last
year 1871 for the river Callabar. Having
taken 10 cargo Of slaves. she proceeded with
them 70 Guadaloupe on The passage, the poor
negroes were seized with violent opthalmia,
"a diseasecf the eye) which soon afterwards
communicated itself to the crew. The disor-
der had. heeH Increased from the captains
hndn HAsmssif under the necessity Of keep.
inc his Atlves constantly below, for they
were 50 afiiIted BY their captivity that when
brought uponNeck, they took every oppor;u-
nifty OF throw iiyl5em,elyes overheard. 10
deter them, SOM ere hanged and others shot;
but this having effect, they were Obliged
to be constantly confined between decks. Ia
process Of time under these cruel circunstan-
ces, the ophhalmia spread and affected every
individual both ol the officers and crew, except
one man, who alone was left capable OF steer
ing The ship.
1T IS remarkable that while the Rodeur was
on her passage, she passed a Spanish slave
ship, called the ST. Leon, which had left the
coast of Africa some little time before her. Ii
appeared that the crew OF this latter vessel had
also caught the ophhalmia from their own
negroes, and that the complaint had spread
until not e0en one man o. the 10hoie cre1V coulc
see TO steer. In this dreadful stale, the crew
Of the Spanish vessel implored assistance Of The
crew Of The Rodeur, 7Shose vOices they heard as
hc ships approached each other; but the latte
had none to lend, so that the 81. Leon passed
on just where the wind carried her. Thi:
vessel has never been heard Of since. Ii j:
presumed that both the oppressoFs and the OPP
pressed persisted on The ocean, either by fam
inc, or by finding watery grave. When
the Rodeur arrived at Guadalupe, THlR-
Tf-NINE NEGROES WHO WERE TO
TALLY BLIND, WERE THROWN INTO
THE SEA AS BEING QUITE USELESS /;
those who had lost only one eye, were sold
at very low price. The crew Of the Rodeur
consisted OF twenty-five men, OF WHOM
TWELVE WERE COMPLETELY BLIND
five OF the remaining ten, were recovered, and
The Other .tfVe each Of them lost an eye"
By practices like this has what is called
PROPERTY IN SLAVES been originally
acquired. And 50 long as men will purchase
and hold 10 slavery their fellow men, will such
practices continue; for the wretch on shore VIC
is depraved enough 10 bug human being, will
encourage the hardened villain on the watel
10 engage in the traffic. But who, except q
slave holder, can read such an account a. this,
without finding bis blood not only chill but
freeze with horror. g THIRTY-NlNE NE
GROES WHO WERE TOTALLY BLIND
WERE THROWN INTO THE SEA AS
BEING QUITE USELESS"
N. ID. Dailg Ado.