Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-10-27

ing army appears in sight toiling along roll.
ing canopyof dust, and with it comes the spoil
ut the expedition. perhaps three thousand slaves
This is the beginning of sorrow WHICH is TO
end with insults and lashes in plantation of
Virginia.
Some OF the captives taken are, after the
general sale, domestcated in Finder. or neigh.
boring Bournou city. Almost every householder
has one or two trained who from ihe method in
which the irons are fixed on their limbs, cannot
walk, but when they are obliged to 90 about
move along with little jumps No sight can be
conceived more painful but if the people will
have slaves It is necessary to feier them. be.
cause there are so many towns and reireats near
to which they could escape without difficulty. and
whence they could not easily be .,,,,,,h, hack
ifhey are exceedingly useful to sthei; owners
who emmy incidence and co,nfaetsnransh their
industry; and for this reason il is, that uheu she
save-hunting army returns so much delight fills
the population as thsy salute the army with the
beautiful Arabic word Alberka ~" blessing /"
In the sa ,Ae spirit the Italian bandit repests an
invocation to the Virgin while he cocks his
pistol!
The slaves cultivate the ground, cook food,
sweep the hints, and 60 all kinds of mental Of
fees for their masters, and when they offend, are
punished with awful severity by them. Yet
they are not on the whole inhumany treated, and
are al owed to enjoy some of their favorite
amusements. On the night Of power" in which
the Koran is SAID to have descended from
heaven. they are permitted to have feast, free
da' ce, and songs; and then they rget ior the
hour. all thought of suffering. and are as hap
py as under their native shades. On certain
days, too, they visit the tomhs of their dead
friends. burning incense over them calling upon
their names and praying to be restored ''to them
and to liberty after drath." They dress very
gally on holidays. and derive from such occa-
slons an enjoyment which seems almost to com
pensatn for The sadness OF the rest Of the year.
Many of them are patrons of fidelity, and after
heightened period of service will die for their
masters.
BIT the most unhappy are those who are
doomed to be sent across deserts. 10 be sold IN
distant cities, and scattered Tar over the earth in
strange lands. Regular caravans are formed to
take them across the Sahara, to the market of
the coast. They are either sold or coufided to
the dealers, and marched in the heat of the day
over the desoIate wastes of sand and rock. with
no alienation To their toll excep, the lightness
OF their own hearts, and the cheer Of their own
songs. The train is ready-,t starts llttle time
ls given for adleus, and The link of blood and
The bonds of love, aud all he ar affinlties of
the heart, are broken for ever! And who shall
say that such pangs do not burn a. deeply into
The bosom of the negro, as suddeSssnd peess
partlngs-" such as break young hearts"--burn
in The bosom ol the most youthful and delicate
in England?
A number Of camels, with file of armed
I men, march with the weary ctvalcide of slaves.
} They may be seen Struggling along the brown
desert, some crawling and scarcely able to move,
Others urged sullenly on with threats or blows.
, Lately, traveller fell IN with ore of these mel
l ancholy caravans. 1t consisted of about twen-
ty camels laden with ivory, and thirty grls, who
had been seventy days on their IN, nolonotls,
, mournful way. Most of these poor young crea
lures had performed 'urneys on elr ro'd from
; their own happy villages to captivity, which
! would acquire for any European traveller who
; should perf"rn them, an uneqnallled renown.
Some of them had lit lie children sung on their
backs. They met an old womtn who was re-
turulnt Tree to her own country, under the
protection OF party OF white men. No envy
filled their sad breast. They fell upon her aged
neck weeping and kissing her, and blessing her
IN return tor the kind wish she uttered, that the
= same happiness might be in store for all of
them.
Away the caravan proceeds over the unneas-
ured desert, 'he camels paclug along in strings,
: one being tied to another, and resembling. in
the distance, moving mass of troops, especial
ly when the mirage nultpes their long f,as
to the eye. A solid bed of rock constlrutes the
basis Of the region scattered over with fine dry
: sand, or bsue pebbles, except when fountain
spashes amid its little green paradise, like smile
on the face o' desolatioli. Occasionally, vast
l. assemblage of rocks appear OF the horzon and
seems 10 the believing eye of the Moslen, some
abandoned city OF the jun. Then small lake
; shines like patch IF silver under some palms,
and snme pretty red and yellow wild flowers are
Il scattered along the track and 'hes aenderer
unaccustomed to beauty amid all tins drear-
1 ness,
q sin barren DESERTS with surprise,
Sees lilies spring, and sudden vrrdre rise
D Aud starts amid the thhsty wilds IL hear
4 New falls Of water murmurlng IN bis ear"
q The slaves as they march wear scarcely any
q cloths, and are treated as much like merchdn-
6 disc as il is possible for human beings TO be.
Three or four are often made into parcel'-
ayoung woman, young man, and two children.
Their condition varies, of course, with the char
acter OF their drivers. Some are grossly and
: savagey used. whipped along by day, and made
the toy of their masters in the camp; others are
. kindly treated, we'll fed and permitted to ride in
,f turns. Those with infants in their arms are be.
:, haved to with tenderness and even respect
9 respect, mean, of the sort which is paid to
o woman in this part Of The earth. Generally, fe
>. males are not believed to possed souls; they
10 have ~ moral motives to virtue, no faml'y ol
Il feminine pride, no liberty of the affections. ant