The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-07

details of slavery and the slavetrade in Cuba, and
with the class of persons carried from Africa and
| brought into that island as slaves. That he has
seen the negroes of the Amistad in the custody
of the Marshal OF New Haven, with the excep-
ton Of the small children, and examined and OBJ
served their appearance, manner, and language
and has no doubt whatever but that those negroes
have been recently imported from Africa, and are
of that class called Bozaies. That he spoke
with one of them and repeated in the Arabic lam
guage, Mohammedan form of prayer, and the
words Allah Akbar,' or God is great, were imme-
diately recognized by the negro, and some of the
words of the same prayer. were repeated after him
by the negro. That deponent addressed another
negro standing by the former in the ordinary
terms of Oriental salutation 'Salaam Aleikown,
or, peace be with you and the man Immediately
replied, "Aleiiown Saaam," or, with you be
peace.
The deponent has seen and has now before
him document purporling to be permit of Ii
cense, called traspasso, for the removal of forty
nine negroes from Havana to the Anistad bound
to Porto Principe, granted to Don N. Ruiz, where
in those negroes are called 'Ladinos, term CIV
en- to negroes long settled in Cuba, and acclima.
TED there, and introduced before 1920; term TO-
tally inappcable to Bozaes, or negroes recently
introduced. This document is dated the June
Goth, 1889, and bears the signature of Espeleta,
the Captain General of the Island
He has also seen another document similarly
signed, purportng to be permit or traspasso for
three negro children, likewise called Ladnos, da-
ted June 22d 1885, and which name of Ladnos
is totally inapplicable to Bozal African children,
who could not have been long settled and accli-
mated to Cuoa. He has further seen an endorse
ment on the said document purporting to be a
permission for the removal of the said negroes
and appears signed by Martinez & Co, But de-
ponent does not know the hand writing of Marl-
nez.
That the CUSTOM On landing the negroes lille
gally introduced by the slave traders of the Ha-
vana, is to take them Immediately 10 the Barra-
cones, or slave marts, which are fitted up eXclu-
sivey for the reception and sale of Bozal negroes
recently introduced where they are kept by slave
traders till sold, generally for period of or 3
weeks, that among the slave traders of Havana
one Of the houses, the most ope | : engaged and
VIGOROUSLY implicated in the slave trade transac-
tons, is that of Martinez & Co., and that the Gus
tom of this house u.s. like all other slave traders Of
the Havana, to send the negroes they import into
the island, Immediately after landing, TO the Bar
racones.
That deponent is well acquainted with these
went to one situated outside the walls of Havana,
called the Misericordia, and kept by one Riera,
accompanied by person we'll acquainted with this
establishment; and there, in the absence Of the
owner, conversed with the factor or ma or domo
of tire latter, who said to deponent that the ne
groes of the Anstad had been purchased in that
Barracone by a person from Porto Principe; and
speaking of their fate, this factor made Of the
expression, "che lastima,"~-or, what pity it is,
which surprised the deponent-but the man far
Their explained himself, and the regret he express
ed, it proved was the loss of so many valuable
negroes who were likely TO be executed, as he
thought, in the United States.
That the house Of Don Pedro Martinez &,Co
continue openly and VIGOROUSLY engaged in''the
illegal traffic, and has NEGROES to be sent to these
Barracones. That the traspasses or permits for
all such negroes are commonly and usually OBJ
tanned at the Havana, simply on application to the
The "Bozal' negroes are called
'Ladinos," and no examination is made by the
Governor, or any officer of his, into the truth OF
the statement, but the permit is granted for the re-
moval of the negroes falsely called Ladnos on the
simple application of the buyers, on the payment
of the fees, and no oath required of them.
That to- apply for these permits and obtain
Them, representing Bozal negroes as Ladnos, as
purchaser, which cannot take place without con-
nivance at the trade, and collision with the slave
traders on the part of the authorities, who receive
a bounty on the negroes imported from Africa.
That the vast number of Bozals thus Illegally in
roduced, are by these means carried into the in
terror, and fall into hopeless slavery. That there
is no Spanish law in force in Cuba, either statute
1r common, that sanctions the introduction of any
negroes from Africa for the purpose of carrying
hem into slavery in that island, and consequent
y that no negro is legally held there in slavery,
who has been introduced since the year 1920.
That the object of giving the name Of Ladinos
o Bozas in the permit or traspasso, is to prevent
apture by the British cruisers on the coast OF Gu
,a.-That deponent has had charge, in his official
capacity, of many hundreds of Boza negroes,
when emancipated by the mixed court Of justice at
Havana, and having to assist at the registering of
hese negroes, can speak confidently as to his opin-
If the ages of such persons; that having exam
ned those Of the Amstad, he states the age of
Sa TO be about II, Ba about 81, Snkiawa about
9, Sussi about 30, Bell about Is, Mama about
70, Shuma about &C. Jingues about "a. The
gees of the others deponent had not time TO take
tote Of With respect to the jurisdiction of the
mixed commission AT the Havana deponent says
is limited TO theadudication ofcases wherein ne