Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-02-12
Breaking up of the Slave Trade.

Orancnes tuelf hymns 10 lne ANGEL OF THE
| LEAVES.
Breaking up Of the Slave Trade.
The December number of the Maryland
| Colonization Journal, formally announces
a fact which has otherwise and less orthor.
itively been made public, 10 wit that he
famous slave mart, SO long known and
held in execration, under the name Of
Gallinas, has at length been eiiectualy
broken up by the persevering blockade OF
the British cruisers. The slavers there
have demolished their baracoons, or slave
pens, given up all the slaves in their pos
session to The British commodore. and
made arrangements for their own remov-
al and that OF their property 10 Sierra Le-
one. So far then the crownng work OF
| slave trade extinction, al least on this part
Of the African coast has been effected. -
The danger remains that Galinas may a
! gain become a slave mart, when the sys-
tenn Of cruising and blockading by the
British Government shall be abandoned, as
will be the case before a long time shall
have elapsed; and the only efficien, safe
guard against this danger, is The acquisi-
ton of the territory by the republic OF
Liberia, either through purchase or con-
quest.
The whole coast 10 an extent OF fifteen
hundred miles, from the Gambia to Cape
Palmss was IN former years dotted with
slave marts or stations; but Gallnas taxi
ing its name from the river at the mouth
of which it lies, was the principal and
most active. This distinction it owed
mainly TO ihe-peculiar facilities afforded by
its situation; the post in fact being q cluS-
ter of small islands, giving ample oppor
tunity for escape and hiding in time OF
need, and the bar at the mouth Of the
river making it difficult and dangerous for
cruisers TO enter, and in the rainy season
being almost impossible. II has been es-
timated that for several years past some
ten thousand slaves have been shipped
from this place alone.
The principal manager in this business,
for there were several merchants or fact
ors at Gallinas-was Spaniard, Don
Pedro Blanco. lie was a man of inteli.
ligence and education; possessed of great
wealth, gentlemanly in his manners, hu-
name and generous as his calling would
allow him TO be, and exercised an almost
unbounded influence among the natives.
He lived in q semi barbarous manner al
once private gentleman aud an African
Prince. He maintained several establish
ments; one on an island near the rivers
mouth, which was his place of business
or trade with foreign vessels that came to
oil fn rf ON
another island more remote, was his dwell.
ling house, where he KEEP, his private Office.
his books, dined, took his siesta, slept &c.
On a third was his seraglio of native wives
each in her several dwelling after the man
ner of native chiefs. Independent Of these
were his baricoons Of slaves, of greater
or less extent as circumstances required.
AS all illustration of his authority and
the determination which il was exercised,
it is related Of him that, being on one pcca-
sion at the point Of the beach, some dis.
tance from Gallinas, whero his person
was not known, he approached the hut of
a native and required the owner, who was
sitting at the door, to bring him light for
the purpose of Lighting his cigar; the man
refused, OH which B!snco drew back, took
a carbine from one Of his attendants, and
laid the native dead at his feet. To his
slaves however-his human merchandise
--he was uniformity, humane and kind,
taking good care of them in sickness, sup
plying them with goodand wholesome food,
strictly prohibiting improper intercourse
between his subordinates and the females,
and never allowing any to be fogged or
otherwise misused.
The first peculiarly noticed by visitors
to Gallinas was an arrangement OF numer.
Gus look.outs, or watch stations consisting
of lofty seats, fifty or hundred feet above
the ground, either among the branches
Of tall trees, or on the top of high poles,
whence sentinels were always scanning
the horizon with good glasses, as well tc
descry The approach Of traders in want ot
slaves, as 10 give warning Of the approach
Of hostile cruiser. About a mile from
the rivers mouth was cluster Of islands
on each of which was located the factory
Of some particular slave merchant rh,
buildings generally consisted Of bust
ness room, with warehouses attached, ill
cd with merchandise aud provisions, an,