The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-22
FROM AFR1CA-THE SLAVE TRADE, &c.
KAw MENDI MISSION, w. A.,
October 6, 1851.

IA" ~hhNbA AhioclbNy W. IL,
October 6, 1854
To the Editor Of the National Era:
You will not forget publishing me, in Cncin-
natl, as "The Last Out' when called on you,
on my way home from the Missouri Peniten-
tlary, IN 1916. In less than two years from that
time, was in Africa, where l longed so much
to be while toiling in the shareholders prison. /
have been now connected with the MenGi Mis-
sion more than six years, and wish to say a few
words, at this present, to your readers and ex-
changes, about the slave trade in these parts,
and the conduct of the English relative to it.
The Little and Big Boom rivers, on which
| our missions are situated thirteen years ago
were the headquarters of the slave trade in
| THESE parts. large barracOOn was kept by
| the Spaniards at Sea Bear, the outlet into the
ocean, of our rivers; and other smaller facto-
ries, las they were Called established up the
rivers, for the purpose of purchasing slaves from
the various chiefs. One establishment was
here, lit is not here now where the Gospel has
been proclaimed for twelve years past, and is
producing Its happy effects. Other establish
ments were on Big Boom, from the mouth to
the Falls, nearly one hundred miles.
For years the slave trade was entirely broken
up IN all these rivers. The Spaniards were
watched so closely 10y the English cruisers, that
they could make no entrance. We were cher
influences along the rivers which should foreuer
exclude them; but, for want of the needed help,
we have been held back the sovereign remedy
was not applied, and the evil suddenly broke
out anew, under new type, with terrible fierce
ness.
In the interim, an English consul had been
stationed on Sherbro Island, who selected for
his residence the spot where the celebrated
John Newton formerly resided, when engaged
in the horrible traffic. The consul is a native
of Africa, born on the Gold Coast educated in
England and America; regular ordained
minister of the Church of England a man of
great erudition; shrewd, active, energetic, bold;
polished gentleman, and Christian; man
interested in the best welfare of Africa, and
determined to use his full influence to protect
her coasts from the dcsolating curse of the
slave trade, and to induce the chiefs and peo-
pie to adopt honest and Industrious measures
to obtain livelihood. Ills infiuenceNras very
salutary in all these parts.
AS | have said, the evil of the slave trade
broke out anew, under new form. not con
Quoted by Spaniards, from whom alone we sus-
pected danger, and thought if we could keep
them ont of the country, all would be well but
now prosecuted by native Africans, the 500
Soos, tribe, whose country lies some three
hundred or four hundred miles northeast of
Sierra Leone; a tribe of traders, intelligent
MahOmmedans, bold, scheming; great rovers in
quest of money, by whatsoever means. They
are scattered, like the Mandingoes, all over
these western parts Of Africa. They are gen
orally wealthy, quite black, and by mixing so
much with the English at Gambia and Sierra
Leone, they generally talk good English, as
we'll as the languages of the tribes where they
travel and trade.
They possess very large canoes, capable Of
conveying from fifty to seventy-fve slaves each,
along the seacoast, from the rivers This peo-
pie, with canoes full of fine goods, assembled Big
Boom river to the Falls, and opened the slave
trade all along.
Their mode Of operating was as follows: they
passed along in their large canoes, with q vari-
city of gOods-guns, powder, tobacco, cloths.
&c.-and trusted the various chiefs with from
one to ten slave money, for which they prom
ised to return the slaves to the Soo-Soos. They
made their headquarters at SOombwea walled
town about one mile below the falls, to which
place the BOOmpeh chiefs hocked, and took
money, (goods,) promising to return the slaves;
to do which they had to wage war on their enc
mics, to get prisoners to pay their debts! And
from such causes may arise another general war,
unless some influence shall interpose to prevent.
These Soo-Soos 90 armed with Soo-Soo bows
and poisoned arrows, deadly weapons cutlass-
es, and daggers. They are perfectly reckless,
II
more than the life of a beast. This is the ef-
feet of Mahommedsm on all its followers, from
its commencement until now They pack the
poor slaves in the bottom of the canoe tying
poles over the tops of the seats to keep them
down, in hatch or hold. They bring them
to the sea, and pass along warily, keeping n
sharp lookout for enemies, and pass Sierra
Leone, to some Of the rivers north, where they
can dispose of them to Spaniards.
No sooner was this dreadful business discov-
ered than our worthy consul determined to put
stop to it, by issuing proclamations to all
British subjects up the rivers, and British allies,
to inform him Of any engaged in such business,
and by watching for and Selling such canoes,
as they came down around through.the Sherbro
Lagoon, and delivering the slaves and their
oppressors into the hands Of Government at
Sierra Leone-the slaves to be liberated
BY his vigilance he took a number Of ca
noes, filled with slaves. At one time he took
two having eighty odd slaves in them. He
went out in bis own boat and came upon them
suddenly and ordered them to stop. man in
the bow of the canoe had already raised his bow
on the consul, and was taking deadly aim,
when the consul suddenly fired, and he fell into
the water, which frightened the rest, and they
he'd into the bush, so that he took both canoes,
and sent the slaves to the town to be liberated.
The Soo-Soos knew not what to do; they
boosted great things, but were greatly harassed,
and could not come down with their slaves
without detection. Thus far the prospect was
fair for putting stop to it. But just at this
Juncture a new admiral came on the coast;
and whether from Jealousy, or the spirit of
contradiction, cannot tell-but he disapproved
of the consuls movements, and would not let
his boats go to assist him in taking the slave
canoes OF course, the consul could not act;
and, as a consequence, multitudes of large
Soo-Soo canoes, loaded with slaves, have been
seen to pass, without molestation and how
many by night, one knows
Now, is not this conduct of the admiral out
rageous ? Can he be an Englishmdn? One
would think he must be a Spdniard, and glad
to see the slave trade go on. If the consul
had been supported, he might have broken up
the whole. But if this slave trading goes on,
we have nothing to look for but general desc
lating war again. We have great encourage
ment to labor. The Lord is doing great things
The country is open, but VIC need La6orsS--ta-
bOrers and funds.
We have three stations, one here with 100
scholars, making fine progress d church of