Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-26
BREAKING UP OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

The December number of the " Maryland Colo
niZation Journal formally announces fact which
has otherwise and less authoritatvely been made
public, to wit, that the famous slave mart so long
known and held in execraon, under the name Of
Gaiinds, has at last been effectively broken up by
the persevering blockade of the British cruisers.
The savers there have demolished their barracoons
or slave pens, given up all the slaves in their pos
session to the British commodore, and made ar
rangements for their own removal and that of their
property to Sierra Leone So far, then, the crown
ing work of slave-trade extinction, at least on this
part of the African coast, has been effected the
danger remains that Gallinas may again become
slave mart, when the system of cruising and block
aiding shall be abandoned by the British Govern
ment, will probably be the case before any long
time shall have elapsed; and the only efficient safe
guard against this danger rs the acquisition of the
territory by the Republic of Liberia, either through
purchase or conquest.
The whole coast, through an extent of fifteen
hundred miles, from the Gambia to Cape Pamas,
was, in former years, dotted with slave marts or
stations; but Gallinas, taking its name from the
river at the mouth of which it lies, the princ-
pal and most active. This distinction it owed
mainly to the peculiar facilities afforded by its su
alton; the post being, in fact, cluster OF small
islands, giving ample opportunities for escape and
hiding in time of need, and the bar at the mouth of
the river making it difficult and dangerous for cruis-
ers to enter, and in the rainy season being almost
impossible has been estimated that for many years
ten thousand slaves per shipped from this mart
alone.
The principal manager Of this business-for there were
several merchants factors at Ganaswas Spaniard BON
Pedro Blanco. He of intelligence and education
possessed of great wealth. genemany in his manners hui
and generous his calling would allow him TO be-
and exercised almost among the natives
He lived in sembarbarous manner, at private
gentleman and African prince He maintained several
establishments island the rivers mouth which
his place of business of trade with foreign vessels that
Galnas dispose of merchandise another island
remote, his dwelling house. where he kept his p
vae office, his books dined, took his siesta slept &C. On
third was his serago of native wives each in her several
dwelling, after the of native chiefs Independent of
all these his baacoons Of slaves Of greater or less ex
tent, as circumstances required.
As illustration both of his authority ando the determine
ton with which exercised related ofhim that being
occasion at point the beach, distance from
Galna where his person not KNOWN he approached the
hut Of native and required the owner, who sitting
the door, to bring him light for his cigar the refused
which Banco drew back, took carbne from of his
attendants and laid the native dead his feet To his slaves
however-hls human merchandsehe uniformly humane
and kind taking good care of them in Sickness supplying
them with abundant and wholesome food strictly prohibiting
improper intercourse between his subordnates and the
males and never allowing any to be fogged otherwise mis-
used
The first peculiarly noticed by yisers Gainas was an
arrangement of look-outs, watch stations
sstng of lofty Seats fifty hundred feet above the ground
either among the branches Of tall tops high
poles, whence sennels always scanning the horizon
with good glasses well TO descy the approach of traders
in want of slaves, to give warning of visit from hostile
cruiser.
About mile from the rivers mouth was cluster Of islands,
on each of which was located the factory of some particular
sIay iofa
sness room, with warehouses attached, filled with merchan
disc and PROVISIONS and baracoon for the slaves the whole
built by setting rough stakes small trees into the ground,
these being waited together with wthes and covered with
hach That containing the slaves much the strongest
and generally surrounded by connected with yard in
which the slaves permitted to exercise daily There
ten twelve of these establishments each
tanning from 100 to 500 slaves One contained 1000,
which, it expected would be shipped daily. Each bar
charge Of from two four white men, Spanish
Portuguese.
very weak much emacated swollen by dopsy diseased
speens, and of them particularly Clean The slaves
we'll taken of could be expected when prov
plentiful in the country, but i'm of scarcity
they suffered severely Many instances have occurred where
in whole baacoons of slaves have been let loose for want of
food and may well be supposed their would allow
them to suffer severely before giving them up For this
and because they be slowed closely In vessel
children generally preferred adults Another peculiar
feature the place the collection long and boats
all kept ready for the dispatch of slaves the moment an oppor
tunly should occur PROBABLY one nOusand slaves cou pe
shipped four hours all things favorable In the coast
is clear of armed vessels and SLAYER appears in the ong
her signal is at recognised She is sgnazed in
in, and if she is waeed and povisioned for the
age and deckad which is usually the case she does not
anchor but stands close in to the bar, where
she by the whole feet of and boats the
of which speedily put board she then stands off
the coast again. the return the baracoons for
slaves, again outside the bar before Some
times however, they fortunate, when
Tested by ofwar The bar the river mouth is not
unequenty dangerous in the dry season, and in the
anxiety ship the slaves they great hazards and many
boat load of poor wretches becomes food for sharks which
always follow such boats and in great numbers
M,D York Com Advertiser,