Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-02-02
The Slave.
BY ROBERT DALE OWEN.

Disguise myself as thou wilt, still slavery! still
thou art a bitter draugbt! And though thousands in
all ages have been made to drink Of thee, thou art
uot the less bitter on that eccount.-STEnNE
Ia the fertile and pleasant island of Mar
Unique there lived, about thirty years ago, a
rich pla lter named Monsieur llama. Pos
sessed of a ~princely fortune, gifted with a
polished address and a mild and friendly
character, he was one of the most popular
and influential colonists on the island. His
plantations were numerous and flourishing,
and he was the master Of many hundred
slaves, whom he usually treated with human
ity and gentleness.
To one of these, a young cclored man., he
accorded the most implied, confidence. An
tome (for that was his nancy was a slave in
nothing but the name. He had but TO ex-
press a wish, and it was g%ra,ifed. Hismas-
ter made him general overseer of his proper
ty, and manager Of his affairs; and Antoine
might be seen mounted on a superb charger,
win silver BIZ and spurs, the adopted son, il
seemed, rather than the servant, Of The opu-
lent planter.
NJ. Haima's possessions consisted, besides
ais landed property and slaves, in large
droves Of mules, and numerous herds Of oxen.
lie had been for a long period, fortunate in
his stock, which increased year by year. AT
last a mortality appeared among his mules,
and he lost a considerable number both Of
these and Of oxen. A few Of his negroes,
too, died suddenly. and the nature Of the dis
ease which carried them off did not appear TO
be understood.
The next year the mortality continued, ap-
parently with increasing viruleNe. The ne
groes died in numbers, and among the rest
the parents and most Of the relations Of
Antoine died victims TO an unknown disor-
dor fnba ahlaSt phrsicians IN tha island
were consulted, and several of them gave it
as their opinion that the mortality was caused
by poison.
The third year, it ragged ,oa frightful ex-
tent. Men women and children, as well as
cattle Of every kind, died daily, until this
mysterious calamity seemed to threaten NJ.
Hanna with the loss of his entire property,
The symptoms Of poison were now too evil
dent 10 be mistaken but who could have
conceived and executed SO frightiul a revenge
remained unknown and even unsuspected.-
NJ. Hama had always lived on the most
friendly terms with his neighbors /; scarcely
any man had made fewer enemies than he
and no one could imagine the cause Of an
I luminosity so persevering and SO fatal.
, One day, when the mortality was at ita
height, several friends of NJ. Haima's called
5 10 condole with him. Let me advise you.'
Y said one of them, " to apply 10 the s%orceres,
S who lives at the foot Of the mountains"
"What?" said Hanna in surprise, sole
y Catiche? You surely do not suspect me o.
lending credit TO the foolish stories which
! are circulated aud believed among the slaves
i of her supernatural powers :"
n BY no means. But a character like
10 hers is seldom acquired without some foun-
7? dation. Do not imagine that ! give her
more credit than yourself for powers Of witch-
craft. But for shrewedness and sagacity
do give her credit. BY her spies or other
wise, she obtains information regarding even
the most secret doings Of her neighbors
scarce a whisper can be spoken but it comes
to her ears; and if any one can inform you
@ who is your secret enemy, II is old Catl'
!, che"
: Hanna REQUIRED next day to his friends
> advice. ~ shall be a beggar," thought he,
"if this mysterious mortality continues
much longer. And, after all, a wise MAJ
n may profit, even by The superslilions OF fools
q At all events, | cannot lose much by III,
trial" So he mounted his horse, and rod
unattended 10 the hut of the sorceress.
Z She sat 10 its faTthest corner, mufiled in
e huge blanket, and muttering unintslligibly T.
herself; and did not, by word or gesture init
j. male her recognition Of The planter as he en-
tered. He seated himself by her, and eDqui
" red if she could throw any light on the caus'
= Of his late misforiunes.
! allow should % returned the bag In he
D. shsrpest key. allow should q poor old crea
III ture like me know any thing ofsuch doings =
he Hanna rspressed her impotence while b
er replied "Ldo not suppose, as many do, Ca
h. ,iche, that you have other means 10 obtsi