The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-23
Prom g,s Flag qf 0,T LHioa.
THE AsIfANTEEs.
4 WEsT NpIAN sLAYR scENl
ny LIEUTENANT MURRAY.

ny LIEUTENANT MURRAY.
II vas ia the spring Of, isib that found
myself one fine Afternoon enjoying the soft,
delicious atmosphere OF West Indian plant
alton. A few weeks residence in the city
Of Havana amid the noist hustle aud heat
Of its narrow streets had peculiarly fitted me
20 enjoy the delightful zephyrs that syept o.
yer the broad coffee fields aud sugar planta-
tiona, redolcnt OF the thousand wild flowers
that hnmL forth ip rAnk lnXurance from cY.
cry nook and corner ui the over fertile soil.
My friend, DIR. IL Possesses one Of the
most extensive and beautiful plantations ia
all the district Of Alguazar and Il was here in
this wide outspread tropical garden aud at his
hospitable mansion, that found myself en-
sconced for week ~ least
During the after part of the day We had
gone over the grounds among the long aih.ys
of mangocs, aud beneath the lofty palm trees,
pausing here and there 20 observe the yAri-
Gus gangs ofnegrocs ~ work now a. exchange
some kind word with female slave engaged
IN the lighter parts Of duty and now pausing
10 admire the Apollo-likc forms of some OF
the malcs, who, half naked, were laboring
upon the soil But Il WIS evening now, aud
the dortor with his family and their guest vat
undeg-thc broad pazEa,whcrc the gentlemen
we're enjoying their cigars, aud the ladies
we're lounging upon cane bottomcd settors,
and tossing their fans,
IL was a soil and lovely evening such a.
one rarely secs except in the low latitudrs-
the sky was ~ blue, the stars so brillant,An
everything so still and mild The fcc-nics
danced IN perfect cloud, over The grounds, n
mong the ,inr- md rrc' r-, aud one was
INN ~ tirru- fir1- r vru-vr7 1 stsIrg h .faticu
80 large aud beautiful were these crcaturrs-
'rrsi ttrrr tilr--1ft Try -uf EdnG Migrt bird
echoed down the long alloy OF broad aud
LOFTY palms uiAt formed the entrance 10
the estate, adding 10 the witchery OF the
hour
What is that p asked I, as a low monoto-
nous sound came over the night air from the
direction OF the slave huts,
The negroes are AZ their music, said the
doctor, their nightly practice
We listened for some time To the wild
chan, Of the Africans voices, which they ac-
companicd 10y the noise of a rude drum mntc
Of hide. IL seemed impossible 20 elicit music
from such an instrumcnt,but there was a Wild
and melancholy beauty in their chant Al
ter the days toll it is their only amusement,
sitting together in this singular performance
They have no games or sports, and apparent
ly no desire TO engage in them,
You have some fine fellows among those
we saw at the sugar yats' | remarked 90 the
doctor. Six or seven of them were splendid
" iu'ritetl nist, -------------------.---.-l
Yes they are from a tribo known as the l.
shdniecG capital slaves II you can only get
them domcsticaied.
'Domesticatcd ?
Il mean contcntcd. when they are first
importcd Tie planters ara very shy OT ThCm.
Those you refer 10 have only been on the Is
land fortnight purchased them from the
Baracoons, near Havana, few days a
go
DO you have to punish them much to bring
them into trim r
If you mean 10 whip them, no. The lash is
never used on my plantation
Good said 1; aud yet you have the best
Of discipline, Sec i
Yes. | make it for their interest 20 be in
dustrious and obedentand they are seryieca-
bic accordingly. ! rarely have refractory
one 10 deal with,an the greatest threat use
TO them is, that will sell them IL they dis
please mo
Ask father 10 tell you about Mabel and
Ponce said a dark eyed Signorctta TO me-
She was the pfcttiest of the doctors daugh-
ters.
by all mcans, give us a story, replied
Who were Mabel and Ponce 4
A couple of slaves belonging 20 this same
tribc,the Ashantces, replied the doctor. The
story goes Ia show them possessed of much
strength of affection as well as conatancv | !
will tell IL TO you in brief
3D. said !; 1T will delight me 10 know
Of these people |
Not many years Ago,' oomm4 need my host. I
4 owned among my slaves, n vrry neat, good
looking girl, belonging 20 the tribe | have |
'pokcn of, whom had brought from Havana
with her brother. / purchased them there
1t the Respective ages, as near as could be
judged, of twelve and sixteen, the brother
he eldest They proved excellent servants,
Wiling, and even assiduous, in the duty al
oted TO them. In common with every other
lave on the plantation, they were permitted
o improve q small plat of grciind for their
'wn benefit, upon which they could labor, af-
or or before the regular hours | required of
hem. From this means they derived n small
um, and IN their own minds resolved event
lally thus 20 purchase their freedom.
You will observe that our Spanish laws
re mord favorable 10 the siave than is the
ase in tlfn United States, inasmuch az the
lave can claim his freedom at any time, by j.
ilering bis master the sum that he original
J paid for him, aud thus become free forev-
r. II thus becomes the ambition of every I
iddstrious and prudent slave, to acquire the 4
icans for their future liberty, though by f,u Z
ld larger portion prefer 10 remain in a state :
bondage where they have no care beyond
nc present hour, aud where they are sure I
being taken good care of for life. d
AS Mabel grew Older we discovered that n
neighbor of ours also owned slave belong i
~ 70 the same tribe, e,named Ponce, who when ;,
yer an occasion offered, showed the teudsf= L
It regard for Mabel, and il was evident that Fl
ICY had agreed TO marry each other when. n
yer they should be able to free themsclves, =
tell, liked the spirit that they cx4rbitnri, :,
I'D the example they set 10 the rest of my u
,opNe, and no was very careful not TO place Ii
~ annoyance in their way, though il would Sc
It answer for me to openly aid any plan of a,