The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-29
Our Havana Correspondence.

commerce and tranquility, so long as honor can be
maintained undiminisbed
Our Havana Correspondence.
HAVANA, July 20, 1858.
Ntsc DESCRIPTION Of Slare Traffic Uth Yucatan
Isdtans--Arrest Of the Spanish agent By the
British authorities, at the Belize.
The concluding paragraph of your Belize British
Honduras) correspondents letter, of the 10th June
published in the HERALD about the 18th inst
contains very important information and has refer
spce to one of the most audacious and scandalous
acts Of pratical kidnapping ever known in the pages
of history, and WILL it is to be hoped merit the just
Indignation OF the whole civilized world.
Upon referring back, you will find that, upon more
than occasion, your attention has been called to
the fact that preparations were being made by GER
tain parties in this city to carry on the slave trade
With the peninsula OF Yucatan, Mexico, and that
already considerable number of Indians from tina.
portion Of Mexico had been kidnapped and brought
to this city, where they held as slaves
It now appears that o certain person, ind
ing with what impunity the African slave trade
was being carried on, and having seen with
what facility he had been allowed to introduce .
number of Indians stolen from Yucatan into Havana,
determined to prosecute this novel species Of slave
trade on q much larger scale. For that purpose he
entered into arrangement with q Spaniard at
Honduras, to whom he RENTED funds to pur
chase q vessel which was to be employed on
the coast Of Yucatan to entrap the Indians.
Several successful voyages having already been
made, and upwards of one hundred and eighty
poor kidnapped Indians been received at Havana,
without the authorities here-who, however,
were well aware Of the Infamous circumstances
under which these Indians had been brought
to Havana--in any way interfering TO put end to
such An outrage the dealer became still more embod
ened in his speculations, which have been somewhat
unexpectedly cut short by tire arrest and imprisoI-
ment of his agent, by order OF the authorities,
at British Honduras, in whose hands he how IT,
and from whom, undoubtedly, he viii receive
the punishment he so justly merits. The dealer
has received letters from Honduras acauainting
him that, at the time of his arrest BY the British
authorities, all the correspondence which had taken
place between the dealer and himself had been
found upon his person, and had, of course, been
seized that among those papers the last arrange
mont rs to the prices he in future willing to give
for Indians, the following being an exact copy Of
the original note now in the dealers possession
MUsr BE A STRONG AND HEALTHY cosDITIoN
For every male Indian, of about twenty years
Of Observation-Disclosures. S25
For boys, between sixteen and twelve years of
For children under twelve years............... s
For women, about twenty years. ............. II
The dealer has also learned that duplicate of the
agents letter to him, dated May, requesting that 70
or three of the belonging to the last cargo OF
thirtysix, per fishing smack Alerta should be sent
back 70 him to serve decoys TO entrap others
Another letter-or rather the copy Of one-hom the
agent the dealer pointing out the sort Of goods to
send him, a. best calculated for carrying on the
traffic has also most unfortunately fallen into the
hands of the British authorities at Belize. AL these
letters and papers are signed, that there is NO
mistake whatever.
The dealer here says the way the business
was managed was this:-the Jenny Lind, hav-
ing cleared out from Belize, Honduras, on legal
eoasting voyage, proceeded Immediately to the
island Of Mugeres, which s situated at the north
east end Of Yueatan, and only very few miles dis
taut from the island Of Contoy, where, you Will re-
member two OF merchant vesses-the Geor-
giaps and the Susan LOud-were captured by
the Spanish authorities, in Mexican waters,
in 1850, and have never since Oe cen restored se
dealer has regularly established baracoons a. also his
depots Of goods, which conveyed there in his
fishing smacks from Havana. The Jenny Lind hav
ing taken board her supplies then proceeds either
TO Ascension or Spiritu Sancto, small Indian viii
lagos, situated on Q very unfrequented part OF the
coast of Yucatan; there the poor harmless innocent
creatures are enticed board The Jenny Lind, made
drunk and in that state they carried of to the
island of Mugeres, where they are transferred to
fishing smacks, and brought TO Havana and held in
slavery. The last cargo introduced in the smack
Alerta numbered twentyeight men, three women,
and Eve boys The agent has fallen into highlands
Of the British authorities, and will most probably,
be hung.
IL now behoves General Canedo TO do bis duty.
w<Ja n( pnff and Dtrhtv If
kidnapped Indians have already been introduced
into Havana in the manner described, stolen from
YucataD. They came without passports or with
out any sort OF document whatever authorizing
their being brought here that he Is amenable for
this Infringement alone, of the law, TO say nothing
Of the outraged feelings of humanity deserving the
well mered execration OF the entire civilized world
in venturing to make such an infamous aud plrarcal
descent upon the peaceful aud uRofsnding Indians OF
YucataD--to make slaves Of born as free ever
was General Canedo his pr0tege. The latter
now boasts that notwithstanding the matter has
been discovered by the British authorities At
Honduras, be will deny all knowledge OF MS letters,
found ON the prisoner, OF that be even knew
that person at all whilst in order 10 enable
these Spanish authorities to rebuff the serious
charge which II u said has been brought against
them for permitting this than African slave
trade and the illegal Introduction OF 80 large number
Of kidnapped Yucatan Indians, he has been advised
by parties high in Office, and he is busily
gagged in drawing up sham contract, purp9rsng 10
have engaged the said Indians 10 work Tor INN at lar
wages, for a certain term Of years.
The dealer and his slave trading projects with IN.
catan have for many months past been the SUBJECT u
public conversation, aud were NOTORIOUS 70 every
body in Havana. We had long conversation with
him ~ his Own house only yesterday. in the course
If which be spoke n aslired terms Of the Brit
ish authorites At Belize who had 50 unceremoaious
Iy iniericred with whAt he called U1t cspccat4ct0g
mann lco. He said he fmad the luj,ars answered
bis purpose 80 we'll that he intended T. sell on bic