The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-23

cluuinB the mouths oil SIX or more fNeis INC 'iN'T
trade is extensively prosecuted. Here commences
the jurisdiction of the American Colonization Soeie-
~, which extends TO Grand Bassa. There are se'e-
raj slave stations between Grand Bassa and cape
Palmas. From thence eastwardly to Cape Coast
castle, situated the meridian of Greenwich, we
believe there slave stations but eastward oil
this and in the bgbts of Benin and Biafra, along the
whole coast, (Which includes the mouths of the great
rivers Benin, Formoza, Nun, old and new Calabar,
Benny, Camerons, Gaboon, and Congo,) with few
exceptions, down to Benguela, in latitude is deg
south, the slave trade is carried to very great
extent.
I'd. {" The space or belt along the shore, within
which cruisers may be useiully employed, for the
purpose of detecting vessels engaged in the traiilcp
Men of war should always cruise as near the
shore as the safety of the vessel will admit, IN order
TO take advantage of the land and sea breezes.
Twenty thirty miles from the coast there are con-
tinual Gains, where vessels subject to vexatlous
delays besides which ships engaged IN the slave
trade keep close in with the land IN order TO reach
their places Of destination.
Sd 1.-The general course of proceeding OF slave
ship, after leaving Brazil or the West Indies, on a
voyage to the coast of Africa for slaves, including
her manner of approach To the shore, her previous
bargain or arrangements for the purchase oil slaves
The time OF her usual stay near the coast, and
the means by which she has communication with
persons on landn
Vessels bound from the coast of Brazil, or the West
Indies TO the coast Of Africa obliged, in conse
quence of the trade winds to north far the
latitude OF thirty or thirty five, to get into the varia-
be winds thence 10 the eastward, until they reach
the longitude of Cape Verd Islands then the
southwark to their port Of destination and fbound
far TO the eastward the Gulf Of Guinea usually
make the land near Cape Mount or Cape Palmas-
Vessels from Brazil bound 10 the southern part of
the coat OF Africa south far the latitude Of
IS deg south and make up their casting in the south
ern variables.
Slave vessels generally owned or chartered by
those persons who have interest in the slave es-
Establishments on the coast OF Africa, where the slaves
are collected and confined in barracoons slave pr-
sons ready for transshipment the moment the vessel
arrives. They are therefore detained but shot
Time after arriving at their place of destination. In
stances have come TO notice of vessels arriving
the slave station IN the evening" landing their cargo,
taking on DO rd all their slaves, and sailing with the
land breeze the following morning
1t Is not UNUSUAL however, for vessels unconnected
with any particular slave establishment TO make
their purchases after arrival. If any delay is
likely to occur, agent is landed and the vessel
stands 10 sea, and remains absent for as long time
as may be thought necessary to complete their ar
engagements The slavers communicate with the
shore either with their own boats, boats and
noes belonging to the Kroomen in the employ ment of
those shore.
4th. 'The nature of the stations or barracoons in
which slaves collected on shore to be sold to the
traders, whether usually rivers creeks inlets
or on or near the open shore"
The slave stations are variously situated some
near the mouth, others considerable distance up
the rivers, and many directly the sea shore The
barracoons matched buildings, made sufficiently
strong to the slaves, and enough of them TO
contain IN some Instances, several thousands The
slaves collected by the negro chiefs in the Vi
cnity, and sold TO the persons charge Of the sta
tons whe they kept confined until an opportu-
nifty offers to ship them off Materials of all kinds
necessary to convert common trader into slave
ship are kept on hand, and the change can be COM
peted in few hours. A number of Kroomen are
employed, and boats and canoes ready for immediate
service.
The slave stations are generally fortified with cam
non and muskets, not only to guard az inst rising
of the slaves, but to protect them from sudden at
tacks OF the natives in the vicinity, and to command
their respect.
5th. The usual articles of equ pment and prepa-
ration, and the manner of fitting up by which
sci is known to be SLAYER, though not caught with
slaves on board.''
Vessels engaged in the slave trade are Ell
Their fitted up with a slave deck or have
the materials on board, prepared, TO put one
up in few hours Their matches, instead of be-
gratings they are supplied with boilers sufficiently
large to cook rice iarnha for the number Of slaves
they expect to receive an extra number of water
casks, many more than sufficient for common
crew also number of shackles to secure their
slaves Most of these articles, however, are con-
cealed, and every thing is done to disguise the
ell
1t not unusual for them to have several sets of
papers, two or more persons representing themselves
captains masters of the vessel and flags Of all
nations; every device is resorted TO, to deceive
should they encounter cruiser.
Some are armed with only few muskets, others
have number OF heavy guns, according to the size
of the vessel and they range from sixty to four hun
dred tons burden with crews from ten to upwards of
one hundred men,
9th. "The utility Of employing vessels Of different
nations to cruise together that the other
might have right to visit and search every vessel
which might be met with under suspicious crcum-
stances either as belonging to the country of the
vessel visiting or searching, or TO other country
which has, by treaty. conceded such right of vista.
ton and search"
| We are OF opinion that squadron should be kept
on the coast of Africa to cooperate with the British
or other nations, interested in stopping the slave
trade and that the most efficient mode would be for
vessels to cruise in couples, one of each nation.
18th. 'To what places slaves taken from slave
ships on the coast could be most conveniently ia
ken"
If captured under the American flag send them to
Cape Nlesurada, Liberia or, if convenient to such
other OF the American settlements the agent of the
United States there may wish.
18th. FINALLY, what number of vessels AMI of
what size and description, ii would be necessary to
employ on the western coast of Africa, ia order to
put entire end to the traffic in slaves and for
what number OF years it would probably be necessa-
ry to maintain such force to accomplish that pur.
pose y adding such observations as the state of YOUR
knowledge may allow, relative to the slave trade on
the eastern coast of Africa "
As our personal knowledge Of the coast extends to
only that part OF 1t comprised between Cape Verd and
Cape Pamas IT is difficult 10 state the exact force re-
CURED for this service; not less, however, than the
following, think necessary;
One first class sloop-ofwar
One steamer from 2U0 to 300 tons burden
Two eight or ten gum briggs schooners.
Ten schooners of about one hundred tons, each
with four guns.
One store-ship Of from $50 to 300 tons
All the vessels TO have one tcuth less than their