The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-12-27
Miscellaneous.
The 'eNubian Slave"


Over parched and Grid desert n train of captiyes
,,o(uIIy pursued their way The air was heavy with
.,onse heat The sun, whose Outline was obscured
rhe hazy atmosphere, seemed to communicate to
h vast surface Of heaven his own burning and blind
x 5t power. A pate and aickly hue fyelIow colored
he whole scene II gave TO sky and desert the same
orched aspect and from its universal aud nolerabe
,ro was infinitely more dreadful than the fierce bril-
nance of an uncIouded moon. The sand, level, and
4 10 the eye boundess, had frightful s.erity That
adfon light cast shadow the earth. The faint
inc traveller looked in vain for the reflection Of his
"a form. There was no shade, no air Around below,
above, heat was present. as If it were concentrated
INTO palpable substance, heavily on the head weigh
Ing down the limbs, expressing and sufocatng resp-
N v,lUn,
TO rest was TO perish. The captives, with languid
eps and the prospect OF inostening their parched
a lip. as The guide indicated that wells were hand
II "Waer! water!" was repeated in many dialects Of
A Africa one desile in dozen languages, and by hun
N dreds Of voices, -"Water, or we dien'
Old Haoo, the chief of the band whose life had
\ been passed in the traffic of slaves, looked on the
fainting throng, tito calculate how much longer
nature could support existence. lie took skin from
n his cancels back, drank himself, and wetted the
mouth Of the beast. His prisoners waited with eK-
" pcaon. "Oh, water,'' muttered he; ''if you
want water, you must move quiekly'' He
meua ced those who seemed most eager for relief with
heavy scourge. He was understood the unhappy
beings endeavored to quicken their pace.
n The train numerous. Most Of the captves
were young, some we're children, others rising into
youth; others approaching usty maturity. Those
who carried on the traffic in human life understood
their trade. The young were sooner tanned, and
more docile TO command. More died, it is true; but
hoy cost little, either to take to keep They did
bot attempt'to escape, so there something saved
I'm letters ship would carry twice or thrice as
lmany Of them as OF Gull grown beings; and, if they
were iudiciousy chosen they s,ld well. NV
In this band there were almost many girls as lads
knd men With few exceptions, all were uncon6ned.
Where fear OF their attempting 10 escape from
#he desert There homes were hundreds Of miles
AWAY. Around the neck Of each was bag, contain
ng roasted maize. This was the sole provision FOL
heir journey Each carried a supply for several
bays They received water only at the appointed
Resting places, which were often at the distance Of
long days travel They we're driven forward like q
Nf1eIu OF caUleS kept rum
when they approached a habitabc country they
wcre bound together in gangs, to prevent any from
desorting In this mode tley hurried to the sea
shore, TO be borne the Atlantic, and commences
their life Of slavery. 'N1 a'' ''e't 'I'h.H t''sss
But now they thought not Of the future. They had
bat one wish; they believed they should be happy
they could but satisfy che thirst which consumed
them. Painting, and with swollen tongue protudng
from the mouth, they passed on, repeating the one
word that animated them to exertien.' Some unabl'
to endure their agony longer, fell They were lett TO
perish on the burning sand In the desert, HE was
cheaner ,bang water hsiiaJ go bua oiyt.d iaa,3
The horrors Of that day drew to close at last In
the distance, the guides who had advanced were seen
filing skins and vessels from the well! A cry of JOY
resounded through the train The single camel Of
the expedition stretched forth his long neck, and
quickeued his pace, while his large lips trembled
with desire. AS the resting place was reached, the
sun wen, down, and water and shade were attained
fogether The younger captves forget everything IN
ahe exquisite sense of relief and delight they expert
Fenced. When their wants relieved they were
eareess r,he future and sank to rest beneath the
large palms which at the end Of the desert. gave
kpromise Of a more fruitful country. %
IA Among the captives is one young Nuban OF prodl
gous streagth and majestic figure. chei IN the
hills bordering the White River, he has been over
come by band Of savage shareholders and sold t
kod Haoo. This man endures all his sufierlngs in ST.
lence. Some CLEANS of Christian truth, It is intna
M ted have reached him in his mountain home, am
" while others'weep and complain he, with claspe'
Va hands raises his eyes TO heaven and seems to NOV
bis lips in prayer. When the train in dminishe
numbers reaches the sea side, :hey are hastily EN-
barked; but their sufferings are aggravated by th
NJ change - afI lesa.,aal a.s ami5 S.
Fair but roughly blew the breeze. The vessel ros
10 the SWELL and calamity few oyer the waters % tn
west. Night and day the ship rolled EDWARDS, n
n pause in her motion for instant, no abatement {
the heaving Of the waters Frightfu were the groan
and shreks Of the captives. (" IT'S matter sal
The captain; s'they are safe. No escape here'' n
was wrong. The escapes were numerous. Fac
morning the dead separated from the livng-not DC
lore. Those who were not on the watch, yet hear
40 their births below the suen splash IN the water
n which sounded the funeral kne Of the victims.
st was horrible to see the shoal Of sharks who
'oNowed that ship. They seemed like the rolling