Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-12-25
Dioqyapi)itn!.
DEATH OF NOTORIOUS SLAVE TRADER

per presented 10 Parliament on the destruc-
ton OF Lagos, thus sketches the life OF Da
Souza, one of the most active and influen-
tial slave traders on the coast Of Africa:
M. Da Souza, the notorious slave dealer,
died about fifteen months ago. this man
was in his S1st year when he died. He
went to Whydah in the year 1899, in his
9th year. Various have been the rulnors
that occasoned his going there; he, how
ever, himself once told me he came out as
Secretary under the Portuguese Government
10 their fort in Whydah, and remained
three years in that service, and then return
ed 10 the Brazils, where | imagined be was
born. He wished it supposed he was
Spaniard by birth, and was always treated
so in courtesy, and styled Don.
The Portugese did not long continue TO
support their government in Whydah, and
the slave trade there soon fell into tteat
hands OF the most enterprisng, the most Of
whom was NJ. Da Souza. lie had for ma
ny years an extraordinary run OF good luck,
and it was imagined had amassed a large
fortune. His fame as a slave dealer gained
him unlimited credit in Havana aud Brazil,
and ship after ship arrived from those pla-
ces at Popo, Whydah and Lagos, consigned
to him, generally with iull cargoes Of mer-
chandisr and specie the goods Were reck-
lessy landed in bamboo store houses on the
beach,
The accumulated cargoes brought upon
him an immense amount of debt; Of this
he appeared utterly regardless, SO long as
it had The desired effect upon the natives to
cause them 10 consider him possessed of in
eXauStble wealth. and for the King Of Da-
honey to imagine the same, on whom he
Iayished vast sums Of wealth, but who in
return could never at any time supply more
than a fraction Of the amount Of slaves for
the large amount OF property that was sent
10 him. Frequently from thirty TO forty
ships, in the year 1896, were lying in The
road-s'eadS Of Whydah, all consigned to
Da Souza, who had landed all their cargoes,
but IN return could seldom supply more
than four or five carEoes Of slaves.
Many OF the ships, after staying out twen-
ty months to two years, from their light
construction went to pieces on the beach
others lost all their crews and were aban-
doned; some became prizes, and the gener-
al result was, as no account was kept what
ever Of cargoes landed, every species Of
eXtravaEance and expenditure took place,
to the ruin Of the owners. Some OF them
sent ont supnrCargoFS 10 see what the for
mrr were abont, Frequently the fate Of
the second supcrcargo and ship and cargo
went the way OF the first. So lucrative,
however, was the profit on slaves, or the
want Of them so much required, that some
years elapsed before these reckless consig-
nees TO Da S2uza began to grow cautious
| in tact, not before many We're ruined. In
/ the injrr min a more rigid law had passed
respecting the capture of slave trading ves-
sells.
The King Of Dahomy, who thus had, for
/ years past, countless wealth poured in upon
| him, became at last eXacting when the ra-
pid torrent ceased to flow as fast as former
! Iy, and it took some years before he could,
in the least, comprehend the causes that di-
minshcd the supplies to his agent Da Sou
"a, who had years before become SO, t,
have the monopoly of the trade, and who
went annually to Dahomey, with tribute
TO the King, and with vast supplies TO his
chiefs, furnish them with means for the
slave hunt. Year after year these supplies
became generally lees; Da Souza, having
become gradually poorer, and troubled with
a host of creditors in the Havana and Bra
2ils. The principals or Consignees them
selves in many Instances came to Whydah
to claim their debts.
Da Souza, keeping no accounts, general
ly denied all knowlpdge of the parties or
the business on which they had come, fire.
quently he would absent himself or be in
Dahomey Tor months, when party Of Gre
dItorS arrived from the Havana or BrazilS.
Yet such was the nature OF the trade, luc-
ky voyage or two enabled him to pacily
the clamorS OF these distressed creditors
He treated them with country presents and
an unbounded hospitality, and with tales
Of the endless resources OF the King, who
would at any time send him as many slaves
as he pleased.
Various enactmenls took place the crui-
sers were more vigilant than ever, and
matters grew worse and worse. Merchants
IN the Havana sent agents to have inter
views with the King; heavy complaints
were made against Da Souza, which, ioI
policy,s sake, the King would not listen to
he himself not being the rightful successor
but upheld by Da Souza's influence anC
vast presents to the chiefs.
AT last, after few more years, it wa
arranged that agents from the Havana an'
Brazils might settle at Whydah, and D'
Souza should give up shipping slaves, bu
to receive commission of a doubloon OF
every slave that was shipped. On this h,
lived in the latter years Of his life. He hal
also raised up duties or contributions o.
every native who held slave, at certain
amount per head, which enabled him lat
terly to keep up some appearance beior
the King and his chiefs; but this grew les
and less, until he actually became torture,
with the thought of want. When he died
, his stores were empty.
The King of Dahomey sent to have hi
property taken up to him, and the chiei
entered into the house, and all that coul
be found was simply little furniture an
some plate, but neither money, goods, nc
any thing of value. This lesson has bee
most salutary to the King and his chief
a. L IL. sl..ra