New-York tribune., 1841-12-07
THE TRIBU N T. F..
The Amistad Africans.
v,r.vclI Meetings and Embnrkation.

,.oed of the probable situation of Mendi, ala.
Eos.a. and that it would not be difficult for the
Neodisns or Kossas to reach their homes If once
safely landed at Sierra Leone Application was
| Immediately made 10 President Tyler to afford
them an opportunity to return to Africa in ma
,ional ship. He replied that no law wa. in OK
i..ence authorizing him to do so. And oa the ap-
picution being renewed, he sent the committee a
letter from the Secretary Of the Navy, stating tina,
,ne mortality on board the late t. S. cruisers on
the coast OF Africa such that it not deem
ed expedicnt 10 send other cruisers there II pre-
sent Yet the T. S. Government was willing to
send national ship. on the demand Of the Span
i.b Minister 10 take these Africans to Cuba if the
righteous decision Of Judge Judson had not pre-
vented
The Committee next applied to the British Gov
ernment, through their friends in England, and
Lord Aberdeen gave them to Understand that pro-
baby vessel would be despatched TO thi. port to
receive and carry these Africans TO Sierra Leone,
and perhaps they might be naturalized British
subjects At least the shield of British protection
would be thrown around them on their arrival
there But as tue cold weather approaching,
much dreaded by Cinque and the rest, and a, tLi,
is tho only season when it is safe for white men to
land in Africa, it was deemed best 10 make prepa-
ration to send all the Meadians home before win
ter set in. Inc money contributed to dehay the
expense of defending, educating and supporting the
Africans, being nearly all expended, an Appcal
was made to the public TO furnish the means OF re-
turning them 10 their homes, and OF supporting
missionaries and religion, teachers in Mendi. In
order TO insure the receipt OF u sufficient sum in
time, and for the purpose of interesting the com
munty still further in the Mendians and the con
tempIated mission, it wns deemed beat to take
excursion with ten of them, ssveral of the prin
cipal towns in New-Engund, &c.
From the 9TH to the 18th Nov. sixteen meetings
were held in Boston, Haverhill, Lowell, Nashua
Andover, Springfield, Northampton, Hartford and
Farsincton. Nine Of the men aud lads, and one
Of the girls, performed this tour, accompanied by
Lewis Tappan, who was aided at several Of the
meetings by Mr.. William Raymond, their teacher,
and by Mr.. 5. Dcming, one of the Commtlee at
Fsrn,ington. AT these meetings the Mendians
read in the New Testament wherever desired by
the audience, spcl, answered questions on reli-
gious and other subjects, related their history IN
our tongue sang native songs, and songs OF Zion In
the English language, and Cinque always made an
address in his native language. The puohc were
surprised aud delighted to witness their cxtraordi-
nary Improvement, and contributed literally Tor
their return, &c Besides paying the heavy eX-
pense. incurred on the tour, upwards OF a thou
sand dollars were collected, and the meeting at
Farmington. upwards OF thirteen hundred dollars
we're subscribed and pledged. The meeting at
Pennington was one of great interest. Dr. Hawcs
preached on Caste; A. +. Williams addressed the
meeting and subscription, honorabls to the place,
was made. The Missionary cause, long SINCE
stuck deep root in Pennington.
The story ,oId by the Mendians Is as follows
They belong to six different tribes living near each
other in Africa, and yet can well understand each
others dialect. They not related, and met for
the first time at the Slave Factory at LombOko,
near the mouth of tho Gallinas river. They had
been previously kidnapped singly and hurried
down to the coast, by the Spanards or the natives
who had been instigated by them. At Lomboko
they were put en- board the Portuguese ship Teco-
ra. 10 chains, with several hundreds of other Atri
cans, and taken to Havana. Here they were landed
and kept in Baracson Gan obong enclosure with
out rooi) for ten days, when Ruz purchased
them, forty-nine in number. Martes also purchased
the boy Kali and three girls, who were brought
from Africa in another ship The Whole htty-three
were pu, on board the Spanish coaster Amistad,
which cleared for Principe about 500 miles
distant where Ruiz and Martcs lived. On the pas
sage the Mendian, had dealt out ts them very
small quantity OF food and drink. When they took
anv water without leave, and al other times they
severely scoarged by order OF their masters
The cook told them that on arriving at frinelPe
they were 10 be killed and eaten. The Mendians
took counsel, and resolved on attempting 10 reco-
yer their liberty. They contrved to nd themselves
OF their chains-srmed themselves with case
knives-kiled the csok-attacked the captain, who
slew two of the Africans and wounded others-and
achieved victory. Two sailors took TO the boat
and escaped Cinque took command Ruiz and
Martes were pu, in irons, and mad dealt out TO
them the same quantity of food and water ,ha,
they had dealt out to the Africans. Thus contn-
usd for two days only, when their irons We're re-
moved, and they were treated very well. When
the water became short, Cinquc refused it to HIM
..,r Il -. cArnraIas snnnlNinr the children and