Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-11-30
HORRORS OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune in a
letter dated U. S. Ship st. Louis Rio De Janeiro,
Sept 18th, lS43, gives frghtful account of the
horrors ofthe Slave trade, it is carried on upon
the Western Coast Of frica, by those who make
the traffic in human flesh, business. vessel, rep
resented to be but little larger than coast
ing schooner, was captured by two English mid
shipmen, with crew Of ten men, in small boat,
and taken into Rio D. Jeneiio, having on board one
hundred dG(ieen Africans, in a state of misery
and starvation which beggars description. When
this SLAYER sailed from the Coast of Africa she had
on board four hundred and Gfy Negroes, the bal
ance having died by neglect starvation and disease;
and Notwithstanding every thing was done by the
humane inhabitants of that port TO make them com.
Portable, many more died after they were taken out
of the little pen up hole Of the vessel and set at
liberty The following is an extract from the letter
alluded 10 -
saw some of the three hundred and fifteen who
have escaped the horrors of slavery, for many
have died since their arrival from the effects of bad
diet and confinement; and must confess | never
saw more interesting, and yet-a more touching
scene, in the whole course of nv life. happen
ed to get on board when the poor creatures were
all on deck dancing and singing their native song
and breathing the pure air of Heaven, which had
been denied them so long; and the happy faces
and cheariul voice plainly indicated that they were
aware Of their being at liberty again. But such
emaciated beings | never saw before; scarcely
one ofthe men had limb larger than a boys arm
and the little children--for twothirds of them were
very young-were nothing but skin and bones
while the women. with the exception of those
who had been iavortes of the crew. were in no
better condition. Through the kindness of the Of
! tcp n tn 81, and It,
ring our stay in the apartmet, saw five skeletons
carried ont for burial, while several in which the
spark OF life was scarcely visible, met my eye in
every corner OF The room On one bed | saw
little fellow reclining upon the liieess body Of his
companion, and so entirely exhausted and ema-
ciated was he, that he was unable to quit his lev
pillow indeed, he was almos, unconscious of ev-
cry thing. Near by was group of some half
dozen others who were fearfully watching the al
most ifeless form of little brother, perhups or
following the humane doctor with wishful eyes as
II he possessed the power of restoring their diving
associate. In another part Of the room the vast.
I'd figure Of tuii. r,lI-uadv r,ou wa. otr.tchod
upon mat ! and bis plteous moans his uninteli-
g'ble words, and continual pointing to his breast
evidently proved that he had been confined in
STOPPING position for the greater part Of the vow
age indeed they all complained of pains in the
breas', as well as of starvation. and the medical Of
"S''s h'oIlueu me mat IN dIssectino them, the
most loalhsome sights are presented One of the
sutJecls That saw was so much diseased, tina,
large and disgu,Ing worms made their appearance
I thIoOgh the nose, an occurrence not rare, I am
told, for II seems that the intesiines are often filed
with them in consequence Of bad diet and water
they get on board
Had j, not been for the timely appearance Of this
English coaster, aUd the perseverance, Of these
brave men, who were obliged 10 shoot down the
captain Of the SLAYER before they could board the
vessel, how many OF these miserable creatures. rob-
bed Of home and country, would have been sold in
to slavery and doomed 10 drag oct miserable ex.
i'ienoe In bondlge, God only knows. This is not
an isolaed case Of the horrors OF traffic 10 human
flesh and blood
IL is cornmon Cor Portuguese schoonss TO be COM
mssoned to the coast Of Africa with instruction. 20
take on board $50 bsles-as the slaves are termed
and stow rhem into hole only thirty hsO inches be-
tween decks, and 10 cross the Atlantic, nearly fou,
thousand miles, with only Is dave provisions and i'll
Gains and adverse winds prevailed and the voyage
heightened out To 90 80 days the slave ship dare
no, AJAX assistance from other vessels, nor enter any