The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-23
Highly Interesting Intelligence from the
African Gold Coast-MOvements Of the

Highly Interesting Intelligence from the
English.
The bark Adeline, Captain s. G.. Gamage ar
rived at this port yesterday from Anamaboe, on
| the Gold Coast of Africa, whence she sailed on
the 18th of February
She brings some very interesting intelligence
from the Gold Coast, for which we are indebted
| to Mr.. Alexander Walker, who came passenger in
the Adeine, and we have to thank Captain Ga
mage for the latest shipping news, which we give
under the proper head
The cargo of the Adeline consists of palm oil
paradise grains, gum anime, coral beads $4,O5O
and 3H ounces of gold dust, all of which is con-
signed to Mr.. John A. Machado, of this city. The
gold dust is twenty-three carats fine. The gold
found in Africa is frequently wrought into the
most beautiful ornaments by the natives. Some
of their work is said to be extremely delicate
Mr.. Walker has very nicely made ring, the work
of one Of the natives.
The most interesting intelligence by this arrival
is relative to a mission that had been despatched
by the English government, to the powerful inte
rior African kings, for the purpose, if possible of
efecng treaties with them, and to procure their
aid in putting stop to the traffic in slaves. The
annexed statement is very interfering:
DEAR Sniff you consider tho following information
worthy place in the columns OF widely circulated
and justly celebrated journal shall feel honored in
vernmen are, ut last apparently satisfied that their
mode of endeavourins to suppress the traffic in
slaves Is only conducive to enormous and useless
pensc and enhances the suerings Of the negroes made
captive the interior Of Africa for the purpose sap
only way in which there is probability of stopping
it eectually is either to possess the whole line
coast which from the unhealt Illness of the climate
hostility OF the natives almost impraCticabe,
to dive into the Interior and by attering the cupidty
of the chiefs by showing them clearly that alarger
to be derived by turning the labor of their peo-
pie to the cultivation of their fertile lands in urthep
of the legal trade and in the interval that must
elapse before forest and jungle be turned into fer
tile plains to appropriate portion Of their pre-
sent profuse expenditures for the purposes of Il
salary to the chiefs as an inducement for
their furtheranec Of this project, for it has been
clearly proved that selhshness is the predominant
trait in the Africans native character, they being
nearly devoid Of humanity, when it is concerned
the wild animals with which their country abounds and
only feeding this love of self their aid be obtain
ed cannot take more fitting opportunity of doing
just praise to the efforts of the now infant republic Of
Liberia who with their small and limited means have
given greater blow to the traffic in slaves the
large tract of coast to which they have claims above
500 miles, than all the profuse expenditure OF the Br-
fish government for years past. They have will in
very short time rs emigration strengthens them, and
their power increases entirely stopped the trade
extent OF coast from the British possessions about Sierra
Leon to the European forts the gold coast Indeed,
to my own knowledge, some of the largest marts be-
tween the Shcrbro river and the Kroo coas have been
entirely stopped and the Spaniar and Portuguese ira
ders driven off by the entcrprsng and bold emgrants
of Liberia.
The American Colonization Society must feel high
degree of satisfaction in knowing that their settlement
first established spirit humanity the free col
ored people of America will by these peoples praise
worthy cxertions be conducive to philanthropy and
humanity to their more bcnghted brethren in Africa
and the day trust is not distant when in very shame
the legislatures of both the u States and Great Britain
will be called to the furtherance through them of
exalted and christian object. Probably with this
example before them, the British Government have
been making efforts to procure treaties with the inte
rior and most powerful chiefs in Africa and for this
purpose n MIR. Brodu Cruickshank merchant resident
at Anamabac, was delegated by the 1t. Governor of
Cape Coast Castle to proceed to Abomu the capital
city of the kingdom of Dahomy, which with Ashantee
is by far the greatest and most populou known
in Africa.
Mr.. Cruickshank was empowered to offer an equiva-
lent amounting to $4,000 per annum to the king of
Dahomy, should he succeed in making treaty with
him the suppression Of the trade in negroes by
which he was to use his influence in putting it down.
and particularly not to participate in it himself
He it appears is the largest seller of negroes in Africa
as annually he dsposcs of from 10000 to 100000
besides procuring domestics for himself and his
chiefs For this purpose, he makes annual slave
hunts which he conducts, and shares the dangers.
He is the absolute sovereign of the nation, and the
people all solely under his control, to whom they
look up to as master no person can hold any pro.
perty except by his permission even during life, and
| mense army of women, numbered by Mr. C. at many
thousands these amazons his body guard they
him. and are answerabe for the safety OF his per-
In his talks with the agent of the British govern
ment. he evinccd shrewdness in diplomatic affairs sell
dom met with in the He conceded in all the argu
&C., &C.; but placed the affair strictly in pecuniary
view along with the custom of his country. He had
received the crown from his father to whom, like him.
all his people looked to their supporter; that it
required between 600 and $500 year for the support
OF his government of which he derived least f2OO
by the slave trade that this the great source Of
his revenue and support Of his crown and country
How, then could those of England expect that he
should give up his country to ruin by accepting the
paltry sum now offered. he would however, endeavor
to turn the minds of his people to agricultural pursuits
offered land to the British government on the sea
shore to establish factories and to aid assist pro-
| tect them in their interior trade, throughout the
several territories MIR c. had much talk on this sub
| Ject He was exceedingly adroit and careful not to
| commit himself in conversation
The turning the labor of the natives to agricultural
pursuits is the most likely method of suppressng the
| traffic.
Mr. c. was, throughout treated with the greatest re-
| spect and hospitality, both by the European slave
traders on the coast and his travels to and from
Abomey bring ing down with him slaves presents
to her majesty from the King, and presented to
himself (strange contradictory Mr. c., who is, we
understand, gentleman of much shrewdness and re-
search and fine literary requirements, has written a
paragraph for publication in England relative to his
travels his conversation with the King and his
views with regard to the most efficient of putting
down the traffic lin which he much benefited and
assisted ny the King in human fesh-the perusal of
which looked forward to for particular infor
nation relative to the subject The African style and
magnifcence of his reception and the parading and
the reviewing OF the army OF women and men is, we
| are told, highly amusing, as well as giving much
higher idea of the African training and taste for war
fare than we ever had previously.
We learn that the particular king referred to, has
arranged a "vocal telegraph" by lines of posts
| by which information is conveyed to him, over a
distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles, in
about one hours time, which enables him to make
the proper disposition Of his slaves.
We shall have more to give on this subject.
|
| Movements OF Individuals.